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1879 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

UNITE© STATES OF AMERICA. 



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THE LUMBERMAN'S 

HAND BOOK 

FOR 

The Inspection and Measurement 



OF LUMBER AND LOGS. 

A Compendium of Useful Knowledge for Lumber Manufacturers and 
Dealers, comprising The Northwestern Lumberman Log Rule (a 
New Standard for Reducing Logs to Inch Board Measure), 
with Synopsis and Comparison with Doyle's and Scribner's 
Rules; a full description of Chicago Yard Grading, 
Chicago Cargo Inspection, Chicago Hardwood In- 
spection, Michigan Inspection Law, Albany In- 
spection, Boston Inspection, St. Louis Hard- 
wood and Southern Timber Inspection, 
Minneapolis Inspection, Maine Survey, 
New Orleans Inspection, Etc., Etc. 



CHICAGO: 

W. B. JUDSON, PUBLISHER, 
Editor North-wester-) Lumberman*. 

1879. 



to. /HlTlJ. 



9r 



TS82.5 



THE 



Northwestern Lumberman 

T|S the Representative Organ of the Lumber Trade. Invaluable alike to 
q manufacturers, wholesale dealers, retailers and consumers of lumber. 
^ It gives quotations from all the leading lumber markets, corrected 
weekly A weekly compendium of all the lumber news of the country. 
Tebms.-$3.00 per year, in advance; six months, $1.50. Sample copies, 
by mail, free. Address ^ LUMBERMAN PUBLISH ING CO., 

Lake and La Salle Streets, Chicago. 



>> 



Copyright, 1879, by W. B. Jttdson. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



One of the most difficult tasks in the domain of lum- 
ber literature is the putting upon paper of a descrip- 
tion of those various divisions or grades which are 
found to prevail in different localities. Surveying, as 
it is known in Maine and some other localities, Inspec- 
tion, as it is termed in Albany and the West, consists 
of fixing a value to each individual piece of lumber. 
Inasmuch as no two are exactly alike, it is impossible 
to establish an arbitrary rule for the guidance of the 
Inspector, and, as a consequence, the individual judg- 
ment must determine the value of each, from a consid- 
eration of its general character, and the uses to which 
it can be put in house building or manufacture. 

As the judgment of men varies as much as each 
piece of lumber from its fellow, it becomes very diffi- 
cult for one to see the value and character of a board 
exactly as it is seen by all others, and hence it is well 
nigh impossible to prescribe what shall constitute a 
board of any particular grade. If it be perfect in all 



INTRODUCTORY. 



other respects, it may not be of equal value with an- 
other equally, but no more perfect board, in that it is of 
a more glassy, brash and tough texture, less straight and 
free in grain, and wholly unfit for the finer uses to 
which its fellow may be well suited. All these and 
many other considerations enter into the proper and 
judicious assorting and valuing of lumber, and must 
be determined according to the judgment and experi- 
ence of the Inspector. 

But while no arbitrary rule can be established, it 
was determined early in the history of the trade, that 
one could be applied to the general characteristics of 
lumber, which would guide both the buyer and seller 
in determining the value of a given piece. While 
these general characteristics applied to the distribu- 
tions between the manufacturer and the consumer in 
the infancy of the trade, while but a comparatively 
small quantity was produced and consumption kept 
pace with production, when the demand increased and 
it was found necessary to build mills in the forest at a 
distance from the consumer, middle-men became neces- 
sary, and at various points in the country immense 
depots were established, to which the mill product 
could be shipped, and whence it could be distributed. 
But the still increasing population moving farther and 



INTRODUCTORY. 



farther from the points of supply, necessitated another 
set of distributors,. and the first began to confine their 
trade to selling, at wholesale, to the latter as retailers. 

Now, the rules which had guided the mill-man in 
selling to his customers, required modification, and to 
prevent too great an advance in price, the retailer was 
compelled to obtain his compensation through a divis- 
ion into grades, and this system of grading has ad- 
vanced to its present status, which may be almost 
classed among the fine arts, yet marked by as great a 
variance as there are individual judgments to deter- 
mine it. As an instance, the description of Chicago 
yard-grading, in this work, was submitted to the criti- 
cism of ten of the leading graders of the city, and the 
criticisms which marked the disagreement of one with 
another, as to what classification a given piece of lum- 
ber was entitled to, were certainly amusing. 

It is the purpose of this work to endeavor to point 
out the general laws governing the inspection of lum- 
ber, without expecting to wholly harmonize the ever 
conflicting opinions of the grand army of knights of 
the board-rule. If, however, it succeeds in establish- 
ing a more generally uniform system of Inspection and 
yard grading, the effort may well be called successful. 

Albany, N. Y., after Bangor, Me. and Port Deposit, 



6 INTRODUCTORY. 



Pa., early became the most important center of the 
lumber trade of the country, and promulgated a sys- 
tem of Inspection, or sorting into qualities, which soon 
superceded the early rule of Surveying, which was 
simply straight measure, or the determining of the 
number of feet, regardless of quality. In this connec- 
tion it may properly be said, that in the early days of 
lumber manufacturing, it was the aim and custom of 
the producer to cut only the better class of trees, and 
it is within the memory of the writer, when the grade 
now known as Selects, Fine Common, or Picks, was 
the poorest which found its way to market as Common, 
and that which now comprises the bulk of the lumber 
handled, was considered as only fit to be sold at the 
mill, and such of it as by accident found its way to 
market was sold for what it would bring, often not 
realizing the cost of transportation. The growth of 
the trade, however, soon admonished the manufacturer 
that he must be more conservative with his timber, 
and the shipments and sale of Coarse Common, which 
included all between the present grade of Selects and 
Culls, was undertaken. 

The fast depleting forests and the increased con- 
sumption throughout the country, especially of the 
lower grades, soon demonstrated that consumers were 



INTRODUCTORY. 



utilizing the cheaper product for Cutting-up Lumber, 
and that doors, sash and other building material 
could be made equally well from this grade as from 
the higher priced qualities. Albany now began to 
select out the nicer Common below the Fine Common 
grade, and Pickings became a favorite in that district. 

If the wholesaler could make Pickings out of the 
Common, the retailer, equally fertile in resource, could 
make other qualities, and so sub-divisions, such as A 
and B Selects, B Box, B Stock, 8-inch Flooring, and a 
hundred other designations came into vogue. These 
are one and all but sub-divisions of the old and well 
known Albany grades, Clear, Fourths, Box, Common, 
and Culls, more particularly of the Common. The 
designations given are uniform, but as before re- 
marked, the selection varies widely, and an A Select 
in one yard may be bought as a Third Clear, or A Box, 
or even as a B Box in another. 

The various systems of Inspection, Grading and 
Measurement are given in the following pages in about 
the order of their adoption in the different localities. 
It is more than probable that if any one standard of 
yard grading is adopted universally at wholesale cen- 
ters, it will be something very similar to that in vogue 
in Chicago, as it is believed to come nearest to meet- 



INTRODUCTORY. 



ing the general want of any method now in use. Mar- 
kets competing directly with Chicago have aimed to 
grade as near like it as possible, and if this little work 
affords any aid in this direction, it will be a source of 
very great satisfaction to the publisher. 



ALBANY INSPECTION. 

This was originally divided into five qualities, viz : 
Clear, Fourths, Box or Selects, Common and Culls. 
Clear, or Three Uppers, was subdivided into three 
grades : First, Second, and Third. 

First Grade. A First Clear board shall be perfect 
in all respects, free from wane, knot, rot, shake or 
check, not less than twelve feet long and eight inches 
wide, (in any case) unless a very wide and thick piece, 
when a minimum length of ten feet may be allowed. 

Second Grade. Not less than twelve feet in length, 
unless very wide and thick with not more than two de- 
fects, i. e., two sound knots which could be covered by 
a York shilling (dime), or sap equal to one inch on one 
side, or one knot and one sap; not less than ten inches 
wide, well manufactured, and free from rot, shake or 
check. 

Third Grade. Not less than twelve feet long, unless 
very wide and thick, and ten inches wide, free from rot, 
shake or check, when three defects might be allowed ; 
either three knots which a York shilling would cover, 
or two saps an inch wide, with one small knot. If very 
wide, the defects might be allowed slightly to increase, 



10 ALBANY INSPECTION. 



but not so as to injure the general character of the 
piece. These three grades are included in one and 
designated Clear or Good. 

Fourths. Not less than twelve feet long and twelve 
inches wide, with not exceeding four defects at that 
width, viz : if free from sap, four sound knots on the 
heart side, not larger than a dime; if free from knots, 
two saps which must not exceed two inches on each 
edge, and must be bright. At the minimum width, one 
face must be perfect; with increasing width latitude 
may be allowed to the extent of the sap. 

Select Box* Not less than twelve feet in length and 
eight inches in width in any case. Must if narrow, 
have one perfect face, and may have small knots, not 
exceeding five, in a width of fourteen inches or more. 
Sap may meet on one end for not more than one-fifth 
the length, or two saps may be allowed on sap side, but 
must have at least three inches of heart wood between ; 
sap must be bright ; must be free from rot, shake and 
checks. 

Box or Common. All sound lumber free from loose 
knots, shaky hearts, rot, shake and worm holes which 



*In the early days of the trade, the grade Select was known 
as Box, while Sound Common was known as Merchantable. 



ALBANY INSPECTION. 11 

is below the grades before named, shall be classed as 
Box or Common. 

Pickings. A grade of common which in its general 
character will dress one side clear, or has no great 
number of small knots, but is suitable for finishing 
lumber. (A mighty good fine common, but indifferent 
select.) 

Culls. Will not hold water, shaky, rotten, coarse 
knots, black and mouldy sap. If very rotten, em- 
bracing more than one-eighth of the board, it becomes 
a scoot, refuse or mill cull. Market culls must be good 
enough to make hog pens, board fences or roof boards. 

Scoots, Refuse or Mill Culls. Lumber that is not 
worth removing from the mill, and is fit only to be 
burned. 



MICHIGAN INSPECTION. 

The Saginaw Valley became the most extensive pro- 
ducing section of the country from about the year 
1850, it being in the hey day of its prosperity from 
about 1860 to 1875, during which periods its manufac- 
turers approximated yearly shipments of from six to 
eight hundred million feet, and sales were ostensibly 
governed by Albany Inspection. The grade was of 
superior quality, and the question of Inspection be- 
came an important one. In order to secure as nearly 
as possible a uniformity in this regard, the manufac- 
turers in 1873 obtained the passage of an Act of the 
Legislature, establishing in each organized County or 
other sub-division of territory, Inspection Districts, 
each having an officer known as Inspector General, 
with Deputies and Sub-Inspectors to be appointed by 
him. The details of this law, which was subsequently 
repealed, need not be given here, but the inspection 
presented by it, being somewhat in its governing prin- 
ciples, in force by reason of prevailing custom, will be 
of interest to lumbermen everywhere. 

It will be observed that in the upper grades, particu- 
larly 1st Clear, it is more liberal than Albany, where- 



MICHIGAN INSPECTION. 13 



fore it may be argued, that inasmuch as a large propor- 
tion of the better grades from Eastern Michigan find 
their way to Albany, and are subject to inspection 
there, the present custom at Albany conforms very 
nearly to the rules established in Michigan. 

Allowance must be made for the fact that established 
usage in Saginaw does not fully conform to the law as 
written. In fact, under the operation of the law, it is 
presumable, upon good grounds, that it was never 
strictly adhered to. It is a noticable fact in all mar- 
kets, that Inspection varies largely; with an advancing 
or declining market, it becomes more or less liberal in 
proportion to the demand and readiness of sale. This 
is one of the main difficulties in the way of prescrib- 
ing Inspection rules, which shall always govern in all 
localities At the same time it is manifestly unjust that 
a piece of lumber which will pass in a given grade un- 
der an advancing market, should rank in a lower grade 
in a duller market. Many Michigan Inspectors never 
took kindly to the law as it was written, and varied 
their Inspection to conform to their personal opinions 
and judgments, and since its repeal have continued to 
do so. The tendency of the law was to the side of 
leniency, favoring the seller rather than the buyer, 
and its repeal was presumably in accordance with pub- 



14 MICHIGAN INSPECTION. 

lie sentiment, as expressed by the trade at large. It is, 
however, the only written exposition ever given for 
the guidance of the trade, and as such it is appended. 

Synopsis of the Michigan Inspection Law of 1873. 

Sec. 3. * * * * It shall be the duty of each Inspec- 
tor General, Deputy and Sub-Inspector, in determin- 
ing the quality and quantity of lumber inspected by 
him, to place the same in that class or quality as here- 
inafter denned, to which it approaches the nearest in 
description and value, at all times using the descrip- 
tion of qualities contained in this act as the standard 
for comparison. 

Sec. 9. All merchantable White Pine lumber shall 
be classified as follows, for purposes of Inspection: 
First Clear, Second Clear, Third Clear, Common and 
Shipping Culls ; and boards six inches wide shall be 
known as Strips. Norway Pine shall be classified as 
Common and Shipping Culls, except as hereinafter 
provided. 

Sec. 10. First Clear lumber shall be not less than 
eight inches wide, twelve feet long and one inch thick, 
and at such width, and up to ten inches wide, shall be 
free from all imperfections. If the width is twelve 
inches, defects shall be allowed that will equal knots 



MICHIGAN INSPECTION. 15 

in the aggregate of one inch in diameter, or sap that 
will be equal to one and one-half inches on one surface. 
If the width is sixteen inches, defects shall be allowed 
that will equal knots in the aggregate of two inches in 
diameter, or sap that will equal two inches on one sur- 
face. If the width is twenty inches, defects shall be 
allowed that will be equal to knots in the aggregate of 
two and a half inches in diameter, or sap that will be 
equal to three inches in width on one surface. The 
Inspector shall take particular notice and shall allow a 
due proportion of defects for all pieces of widths be- 
tween or above the given standard; also shall allow 
additional defects as the lengths increase above twelve 
feet long, in proportion to such increased dimensions. 
He shall also allow as follows in each of the three 
grades of clear lumber, viz : For each additional half 
inch in thickness, additional defects in proportion, that 
shall equal knots in the aggregate of one-quarter inch 
more in diameter, or sap that will be equal to one- 
quarter of an inch more in width. All pieces shall be 
well manufactured and of full thickness (all knots to 
be sound), and all sap to be free from black stain that 
is of such character that cannot be removed by dress- 
ing, and no piece shall be allowed with more than one 
straight split, and that not to be over one-fifth the 



16 MICHIGAN INSPECTION. 

length of the piece, which shall be counted as one defect. 
Second Clear. Shall be not less than eight inches 
wide, twelve feet long and one inch thick, and at such 
width, and up to ten inches wide, defects shall be 
allowed that will be equal to knots in the aggregate, of 
three-quarters of an inch in diameter, or sap that will 
be equal to three-quarters of an inch in width on one 
surface. If the width is twelve inches, defects shall be 
allowed that will be equal to knots in the aggregate of 
one and a half inches in diameter, or sap that will be 
equal to three inches in width on the edges. If the 
width is sixteen inches, defects shall be allowed that will 
equal knots in the aggregate of two and a half inches 
in diameter, or sap that will be equal to four inches in 
width on the edges. If the width is twenty inches, de- 
fects shall be allowed that will be equal to knots in the 
aggregate of three inches in diameter, or sap that will 
be equal to five inches in width on the edges. A 
straight split shall be allowed in this quality as before 
provided in boards of the width of twelve inches or 
over, and be counted as one defect. 

Third Clear. Shall not be less than seven inches 
wide, twelve feet long, and one inch thick, and at such 
width, and up to ten inches, defects shall be allowed 
that will be equal in icjury to a knot one and one-half 



MICHIGAN INSPECTION. 17 

inches in diameter, or sap that •will be equal to one and 
one-half inches in width on the best side. If the width 
is twelve inches, defects shall be allowed that will be 
equalin injury to a knot of two and one-half inches in 
diameter, or sap that will be equal to two and one-half 
inches wide on the best side. If the width is sixteen 
inches, defects shall be allowed that will be equal in in- 
jury to a knot of four inches, or sap that shall be equal 
to four inches wide on .the best side. If the width is 
twenty inches, defects may be allowed that will be 
equal in injury to a knot five inches in diameter, or sap 
equal to six inches on the best side, but sap in no case 
to exceed one-half the surface on the poorest side. In 
this quality shall be included pieces ten feet long and 
not having more than their due proportion of defects ; 
also all pieces six inches wide and more than one inch 
thick, with not more than two small, sound knots, or 
sap not more than one inch in width on one side. 

First Clear Strips. Shall be six inches wide, one 
inch thick, and not less than twelve feet in length, and 
free from all imperfections. 

Second Clear Strips. Shall be the length, width 
and thickness of First Clear, and may have two small, 
sound knots, or if no knots then sap equal to one inch 
in width on one edge of one side. 



18 MICHIGAN INSPECTION. 

Third Clear Strips. Shall be of the width and 
thickness of First Clear Strips, and may have three 
small sound knots, with sap one inch on one side; but 
if no more than three small, sound knots, then sap 
equal to two inches on one side may be allowed ; tc be 
free from rot, shake or split. 1st and 2d Norway Strips 
of full width and thickness, and 1st and 2d Clear 
White Pine Strips, ten feet in length, also 1st and 2d 
Clear Strips rejected on account of thickness, and not 
less than five inches wide, shall be classed in this, 
quality. 

Common Lumber. Shall include all Boards, Planks, 
ScantliDg, Strips, Joist, Timber, and lumber not other- 
wise defined, which is not as good as Third Clear, but 
is generally of a sound character, well manufactured, 
of full thickness, and free from large, loose knots and 
bad shakes, that show on both sides of the piece. 
Scantling, Joist and Timber must be free from imper- 
fections which so weaken the piece that it cannot be 
used for substantial building purposes. Scantling, 
Joist and Timber made from worm eaten logs, and 
pieces with a small streak of rot, when not so badly 
damaged as to render the same unfit for ordinary uses 
of common lumber, shall belong to this quality. One 
straight split shall be allowed, provided it does not 



MICHIGAN INSPECTION. 19 

exceed one- quarter the length of the piece. Pieces 
that have not more than two auger holes, which are 
placed near the end of the piece, shall be allowed in 
this quality, provided they are measured in lengths of 
even number of feet between said auger holes, and con- 
form in all other respects to the requirements of this 
quality. No lumber under ten feet in length shall be 
considered as merchantable. 

Shipping Culls. Shall constitute the lowest grade 
of merchantable lumber, and shall include all lumber 
not as good as Common, which can be used for ordina- 
ry purposes without a waste of more than one-half. 

Mill Culls. Shall include all lumber not as good as 
Shipping Culls. A board or plank over twelve inch- 
es in width, of which one end shall be wider than the 
other, shall be measured at a point one-third its length 
from the narrow end, to determine its width, and all 
such boards or plank less than twelve inches in width 
shall be measured at the narrow end. All lumber over 
ten feet, up to and including twenty feet, shall be meas- 
ured in lengths of even number of feet, and all over 
twenty feet long, each additional foot shall be counted, 
unless otherwise agreed between buyer and seller. No 
fractional part of a square foot shall be counted ex- 
cept in the measurement of joist, scantling or timber. 



20 MICHIGAN INSPECTION. 



Sec. 11. Merchantable lumber may be measured and 
inspected in either of the three classes following, viz: 
The first class shall be an inspection of the lumber in 
the five qualities aforesaid. 

The second class shall be an inspection of the lum- 
ber in three classes, of -which the first, second and third 
class shall form one, which shall be denominated Up- 
pers, and the other two shall be Common and Shipping 
Culls as aforesaid. 

The third class of inspection shall be in one quality 
which shall include the five qualities first mentioned, 
and shall be denominated Straight Measure. 



SAGINAW INSPECTION. 

While the preceding chapter reproduces the enacted 
law which for three or four years prescribed what 
should be the rule of inspection in the state of Michi- 
gan, it is an undeniable fact that Saginaw was a law 
unto itself, and while ostensibly working under the 
provisions of the written law, the inspection of that 
section was in reality unchanged from preceding sys- 
tems, to which customs the inspectors mainly adhere 
to-day. 

The same designations of Good, or Uppers, Selects, 
Common and Culls are retained, or lumber is sold, log 
run (mill culls out) as prescribed in the last section of 
the defunct law. The main difference between the 
old Michigan law and Saginaw Inspection proper, is in 
the former being more in favor of the seller, while the 
latter is in favor of the purchaser of lumber, and the 
difference is confined to the higher grades. 

The difference may be noted as follows : In the three 
uppers the Albany rule is more nearly adhered to. 

First Clear. Is not less than eight inches in width, 
and is free from imperfections, the term Clear imply- 
ing freedom from defects. 



22 SAGINAW INSPECTION. 

Second Clear, Not less than eight inches in width, 
at which it must be so nearly perfect as to fall but a 
trifle short of First Clear. As the width increases, a 
larger range of defects may be allowed, so that at 
twelve inches wide, a piece may have two knots of one 
inch diameter, or two narrow saps on one side; at six- 
teen inches wide, especially if the piece is more than 
one inch thick, two knots may be allowed, or one knot 
and one sap not over one and one-half inches in width. 
At twenty inches in width the two knots may be larger, 
or the saps may widen to one and one-half inches. 

Third Clear. Is supposed to admit of three defects, 
but up to ten inches, knots should not exceed three- 
quarters of an inch in diameter, or sap not exceeding 
three-quarters of an inch on one side. With increas- 
ing width knots may increase to three in number, not 
exceeding in size one inch each, or sap equal to one 
and a half inches in width on two edges of one side ; 
with narrower saps a small knot showing on the face 
side might be allowed ; but as a rule the three upper 
grades demand one perfect face. As in all other mar- 
kets, the inspector is supposed to exercise a wide range 
of judgment in the inspection of the three uppers. A 
plank two inches thick and thirty inches wide will ad- 
mit of a more lenient judgment, as regards defects in 



SAGINAW INSPECTION. 23 

size and number, than a piece of half that size or of 
one inch thick. 

A piece of soft cork pine, of free grain and generally 
handsome appearance, must not be judged with equal 
harshness with a piece of glassy texture, tough grain 
and unfavorable appearance. 

An experienced inspector will in all cases judge of a 
piece of lumber from the standpoint of the location of 
its defects, and the general utility of the piece. While 
not more than three defects should as a rule be in- 
cluded in the three upper grades, no one will deny 
that a wide plank with even five knots located near 
one side, or even some of these showing through to 
the face, but where perhaps four-fifths of the plank is 
" clear as a hound's tooth," is deserving of classifica- 
tion in this grade. In reality, the inspection of lumber 
in uppers consists in defining what constitutes Third 
Clear, as, in practice, First and Second Clear is ignored, 
and the number and character of the defects which 
may be passed in Third Clear, determines the charac- 
ter of the Three Uppers. But in Saginaw and some 
other markets the term "Good" is used in designating 
the upper grades, and purchases are sometimes made 
in "Good," "Fourths," "Box," Common and Culls; 
yet, unless these terms are specified, the quality "Good" 



24 SAGINAW INSPECTION. 

in common use will include not only the Three Uppers, 
but as well the next grade below, or Fourths. 

Fourths. As the term implies, allows of four de- 
fects in a piece of lumber. Four knots the size of 
from a dime to a quarter of a dollar, according to the 
size of the piece, or two saps on one side, which at 
twelve inches wide, should not exceed three inches in 
the aggregate, or embrace more than one-quarter of 
the sap side, the heart side being a face. With increas- 
ing width the proportion of sap may increase, or with 
narrow saps, the face side may have some knots. The 
general description of this grade, however, is of a 
class of lumber which has four defects, of such charac- 
ter, as, while condemning it for the Three Uppers, yet 
marks it as suited for many or most uses to which the 
Three Uppers may be put; the fact that it is combined 
under the term Good, with the Three Uppers, showing 
it to be more nearly allied to them than to the lower 
grades. Fourths were originally known as the dividing 
grade between the Three Uppers and Common, and the 
designations were Good, Fourths, Common and Culls. 
When, however, it became incorporated with the 
Three Uppers, and was included in that designation, 
(as it has practically become) the grade Selects which 
had hitherto classed with the Common, was admitted 



SAGINAW INSPECTION. 25 



to the code, and consisted of what had hitherto been 
looked upon as raising the Common to a higher stand- 
ard of excellence. 

Selects— known as Select Common, or Select Box, 
or where the designation is thoroughly known, Box, is 
a grade of lumber suitable for finishing purposes, yet 
having too much sap on one side, or too many knots 
on the other, to admit its entry to the grade of Fourths. 
Selects are usually taken from the lumber cut next to 
the outside of the log, sometimes known as sap boards, 
the general character of which is to give one face side, 
while the other is largely covered with sap, which if 
properly piled, so as to dry bright without stain or 
mould, is adapted to a large proportion of the finer 
work where one side only is exposed to view. With 
this point in mind the inspector will allow knots in 
this grade proportioned to the size of the piece. If 
the sap is narrow the face may have one or two small 
knots, but, except in wide lumber, the rule is observed 
"one side a face." Selects are seldom accepted below 
eight inches in width, and at that width the defect is 
in sap, which may embrace not more than one-third 
the sap side and must not run on to the face side. Or 
a board of that width may have a good sap side, near- 
ly if not wholly clear, and one or two small knots on 



26 SAQINAW INSPECTION. 

the heart side. In larger pieces a board or plank hav- 
ing too many defects for the grade of Fourths, and 
yet approaching almost to the requirements of that 
grade, is included in the Selects. A board sixteen 
inches wide, one inch thick with five knots the size of 
one inch, and no other defect, would be classed with 
Selects. The same piece at l£ or 2 inches thick 
would probably by most inspectors be classed as 
Fourths. A board twelve inches wide, with a perfect 
heart side, and the bright sap covering half or more of 
the sap side, would be a Select. If the saw had 
skimmed the sap side a quarter inch deeper, so as to 
reduce the sap one-half, the piece would be called a 
Fourth. Sap covering the one side wholly, even though 
not coming on to the heart side, would reduce the 
board to Common, unless in markets where "Picks" are 
known as a grade. They are not known in Saginaw, 
and go to enrich the Common, and afford perquisites 
to the retailer. This in fact may be said of the cus- 
tom at all Michigan and Wisconsin points. Shaky 
lumber is not admitted in this or the upper grades. 

Strips, First Clear. Are six inches wide, and one 
inch thick, and free from all imperfections, and are 
known as clapboard or siding strips. The term siding 
strips should not be confounded with "Sidings" or 



SAGINAW INSPECTION. 27 



lumber cut from the side of a log, in distinction from 
the stock, or lumber cut from the squared log. 

Strips, Second Clear — Approaches A Flooring, Chi- 
cago yard grading. Six inches wide, one inch thick, 
and may have two small, sound knots, or if no knots, 
then sap equal to one inch in width on one edge of 
one side. 

Strips, Third Clear— Nearest to B Flooring, Chi- 
cago yard grading. Six inches wide* one inch thick, 
and may have three small sound knots, and upon one 
side in addition, sap equal to two inches in width. All 
strips in these three grades must be free from rot, 
split or shake. 

Norway Strips answering to the description of 
First and Second Clear, and ten feet or more in length, 
are included in this grade when sold as Norway. 

Strips, Flooring and Fencing. Include all strips 
not as good as Third Clear, yet free from rot and split. 
Flooring strips must be of full thickness and width, 
except where a narrower width is desired, when they 
may be of the uniform width of three, four or five 
inches. All knots in flooring strips must be of a 
sound character. Fencing strips include all coarse 
grade strips not good enough for flooring, and above 
the grade of culls, or strips not up to the standard 



28 SAGINAW INSPECTION. 



thickness, and their inspection is less rigid than in 
the other grades. 

Common. The term common includes all boards, 
plank, scantling, strips, joist, timber and lumber not 
otherwise defined, which does not come up to the 
standard of Select Box, but is of a generally sound 
character, well manufactured, of full thickness, and 
free from large, loose knots, and bad shake. Scant- 
ling, joist and timber must be free from knots or im- 
perfections which involve or weaken the piece for sub- 
stantial building purposes. Worm holes and small 
rot streaks, in extent not materially to damage the 
piece for the uses in which its size is usually employed 
belong to this quality. One straight split, not more 
than one quarter the length of the board, may be al- 
lowed. Auger holes (almost unknown in Saginaw) are 
to be excluded, by measuring in even feet between the 
holes. No lumber under ten feet in length is consid- 
ered as merchantable in this or the better grades. 

Shipping Culls. Unsound knots, or knots which 
affect the strength of the piece, black or mouldy sap, 
unsound hearts, bad splits, badly sawed lumber in 
wedges or tarves (uneven edges), where the piece is yet 
available for coarse use, and all lumber not up to the 
grade of common, is included in this grade. Any- 



SAGINAW INSPECTION. 29 



thing poorer than shipping culls is not recognized in 
any market. 

Saginaw lumber is always manufactured in twelve, 
fourteen and sixteen feet lengths (with an exceptional 
log of other lengths) in all grades, except dimension 
stuff, where lengths are cut to suit the sizes demand- 
ed, but the sidings from such logs are usually cut off to 
the twelve, fourteen and sixteen foot standard. 

The thicknesses of the Saginaw lumber, as usually 
cut, is 1 inch, 1^, l-|-and 2 inches, but with some 3 inch 
in coarse plank for road or paving purposes, or in ex- 
tra nice stock, for thick uppers or deals. All lumber 
is manufactured in parallel widths, and many mills 
employ cut-off tables for reducing all lengths to uni- 
formity. 

The coarser grades are almost uniformly cut one 
inch thick, the better grades almost invariably in the 
one and one-half and two inch thicknesses. The Sag- 
inaw district supplies a larger proportion of the finer 
grades of white pine, than any other portion of the 
West. 



CHICAGO CARGO INSPECTION. 

Adopted by the Lumberman's Exchange. 

This may be termed a modification of the combined 
Albany and Saginaw Inspections. It is observed in 
the sale of cargoes on the Chicago wholesale market. 

Sec. 1. First Clear and White Pine Lumber shaJl 
be not less than twelve inches in width, and no imper- 
fections allowed unless fourteen inches wide or up- 
wards ; will then allow imperfections equal to sap, one 
inch on one side, extending the whole length of the 
piece, on pieces fourteen inches wide and well manu- 
factured, but the face side must be perfect ; as width 
increases, will allow larger imperfections in proportion 
to the width, but uot imperfections enough to decrease 
the value below the above described piece. 

Sec. 2. Second Clear White Pine Lumber shall not 
be less than ten inches wide and perfect up to eleven 
inches in width; will then allow imperfections equal to 
sap one inch on one side of the whole length of the 
piece, if well manufactured ; as width increases, will 
allow other and larger imperfections in proportion to 
the width, but not imperfections enough to decrease 
the value below the above described piece. 



CHICAGO CARGO INSPECTION. 31 

Sec. 3. Third Clear White Pine Lumber shall not 
be less than nine inches in width, and perfect up to 
ten inches ; will then allow imperfections equal to sap, 
one inch on one side of the whole length of the piece, 
if well manufactured. The imperfections of this qual- 
ity shall not exceed 100 per cent, over those allowed 
in Second Clear. 

Sec. 4. Select White Pine Lumber shall include all 
lumber poorer in quality than Third Clear, the imper- 
fections of which shall not exceed 100 per cent, over 
those allowed in Third Clear. 

Sec. 5. Clear White Pine Flooring shall be one 
inch thick, six inches wide, and no imperfections. 

Sec. 6. Second Clear White Pine Flooring shall be 
in thickness and width same as Clear Flooring, and 
will allow of one small knot or sap three-quarters of 
an inch on one side, with clear face. 

Sec. 7. Common White Pine Flooring shall be of 
the width and thickness of First and Second Clear 
Flooring, and may have three small, sound knots, with 
sap one inch on one side, but if less than three knots, 
then sap equal to two inches on one side, and shall be 
free from rot, splits and shakes. Four inch flooring 
strips, equal in quality to First and Second Clear 
Flooring, shall be classed as Common six inch flooring. 



32 CHICAGO CARGO INSPECTION. 



Sec. 8. Common Pine Lumber includes all boards 
plank, joists, scantling, timber, fencing, and four inch 
strips that are of generally sound character, well manu- 
factured, and not included in the foregoing qualities. 
Boards and plank should be square-edged, full thick- 
ness, and have no large loose knots or bad shakes. In 
wide boards, twelve inches and over, will allow a 
straight split one sixth the length of the piece, when 
otherwise sound. Fencing should be of good, sound 
character — pieces that will not break easily, six inches 
wide and one inch thick. Scantling, joist and timber 
should not have imperfections that would weaken the 
piece so that it cannot be used for substantial building 
purposes, and be uniform in width and thickness. Lum- 
ber should be measured at the small end, and if much 
wane on the piece, reasonable allowance made for it. 

Norway Pine Lumber shall be classed as common 
lumber, unless otherwise agreed upon. Cargoes of piece 
stuff or timber containing over twenty-five per cent. 
Norway, shall not be considered standard, and all edge 
boards and inch lumber in cargoes of piece stuff, shall 
be subject to special agreement. 

Sec. 9. All badly stained white pine lumber, that is 
otherwise better than common, shall be inspected into 
a lower grade than when bright and free from stain. 



CHICAGO CARGO INSPECTION. 33 

Sec. 10. All lumber described in the foregoing Rules 
of Inspection, shall be not less than one inch in thick- 
ness, and not less than twelve feet long. 

Sec. 11. Culls. A quality that cannot be received 
into any of the foregoing, consisting of even lengths, 
of ten feet and upwards, and so imperfect as to be unfit 
for ordinary uses without waste. 

Mill Culls. Refuse lumber. 

Sec. 12. All cargoes sold under straight measure 
shall consist of lumber twelve feet and over ; and where, 
by imperfection of manufacture, such lumber is reduced 
in grade so as not to answer the purpose for which it 
was intended, it shall be measured at only one half the 
amount in the piece for which it was intended. And 
all pieces contaiuing auger holes, if fourteen feet in 
length and over, and bored only at the ends, shall be 
measured in full, excluding two feet in length of the 
piece ; if bored in the center, it shall be measured for 
only one half the amount in the piece. All lumber 
less than twelve feet, to be subject for special contract 
between the parties. Mill Culls excluded in all cases. 
All boards and strips to be at least one inch thick ; joists 
or scantling two or three inches thick. 

Sec. 13. Shingles— Pine or Cedar, Sawed or Shaved, 
Warranted A or Star, shall be sixteen inches in length, 



34 CHICAGO CARGO INSPECTION. 

not less than three-eighths of an inch thick at the butt, 
and none less than three inches in width — all perfect. 
Number One— shall be sixteen inches in length, and 
not less than one third of an inch in thickness ; may ad- 
mit of forty shingles in a thousand, if perfect, less than 
three inches in -width, or the same number of clipped, 
clips not to exceed three inches. All shingles to be 
smoothly sawed or shaved, and packed in good order. 

Culls — are a quality manufactured from winding, 
wormeaten, shaky or dry-rot timber, badly manufac- 
tured or less than sixteen inches in length. 

It is recommended that one quarter thousand bunch- 
es be packed in bands twenty inches in length, with 
twenty five courses ; one-half thousand bunches in twen- 
ty-five inch bands with forty courses. Shingles shall 
always be full count, and pay shall be collected only 
for the number of shingles actually delivered, regard- 
less of the pretended number contained in each pack- 
age or bundle ; or, in other words, there shall be exact- 
ed in every instance for one thousand shingles, the 
equivalent of one thousand pieces four inches wide. 

Sec. 14. Lath — Number One — should be four feet 
(no more, no less,) in length ; not less than three-eighths 
of an inch thick, and one and one-half inches wide, free 
from shakes, rot, wane, or worm-holes. 



CHICAGO CARGO INSPECTION. 35 



Number Two — same length as No. 1, may be less 
than three-eighths of an inch thick, and must be not 
less than one and one-quarter inches wide, will admit 
of wane and worm-holes not to exceed ten pieces in a 
bundle of one hundred. 

Culls— All that will not pass in the above-named 
qualities. 



CHICAGO YAKD GKADING. 

The system of grades prevailing among the yards 
of Chicago, is a most difficult thing to describe, yet a 
general similarity of ideas is supposed to prevail 
among all dealers. We therefore endeavor to give the 
general laws govering their grading. 

First Clear. Shall not be less than twelve inches in 
width and twelve feet long (except that in some yards 
ten foot pieces are admitted in the upper grades, the 
majority adhering to the twelve foot standard), and 
with no imperfections, unless the piece is fourteen 
inches or over in width; will then allow imperfections 
equal to sap, one inch on one side, extending the whole 
length of the piece, but the face must be perfect. As 
the width increases, will allow larger imperfections in 
proportion to the width. 

Second Clear. Shall be not less than eleven inches 
wide, and must be perfect up to eleven inches. Above 
eleven inches, imperfections may be allowed equal to 
sap one inch on one side of the whole length of the 
piece if well manufactured. With increasing width 
will allow other and larger imperfections in proportion 
to the width, but not imperfections enough to decrease 



CHICAGO YARD GRADING. 37 



its value beyond the standard of a twelve inch piece 
of above description. 

Third Clear. Shall not be less than nine inches in 
width (except as below), and perfect up to ten inches ; 
will then allow imperfections equal to sap one inch on 
one side of the whole length of the piece if well man- 
ufactured. This grade, however, is subject to modifi- 
cation in that while it is mainly the equivalent of Al- 
bany Thirds and Fourths, it may generally be found 
to combine the grades of A Box, A Stock and 8-inch 
A, varying from standard inspection by allowing a 
minimum width of nine inches and a length of twelve 
feet. In yard grading, knots as big as a half dollar 
may be allowed in a fair sized piece, as to general 
location and effect upon the use of the board. Smaller 
knots, as high as five in number, or bright sap on each 
edge of one side, two inches in width. In narrow 
boards, one face must be nearly perfect except 8-inch 
A, where the general rule applies modified by the 
width. A stocks, usually refers to 12-inch, but may 
apply to 10-inch Stocks when so specified. 

A Box and A Stocks usually range in price with 
Third Clear. Eight-inch A, although of the same gen- 
eral quality, ranges from $3 to $5 lower in price. Ten- 
inch Stock in all grades usually ranges $2 below 12-inch. 



38 CHICAGO YARD GRADING. 



A Selects, B Box, B Stock, Eight-inch B. These 
are all of about one grade, and are taken from Third 
Clear and Selects, what may be called " line boards," 
between the two grades. 

A Selects are properly a grade below, although some 
claim to make it equal to 3d Clear. In this grade, some 
yards will allow shake, where the use and general 
value of the piece is not seriously impaired thereby. 
As a rule, however, no shake is admitted. Knots may 
be allowed according to size of board and location of 
knots, but seldom both knots and shake. Widths may 
run from 8-inch upward. Sap may be allowed equal 
to two inches on one side of a nine inch piece, increas- 
ing with the width. The term "Box" is applied to all 
grades, where the width makes the lumber suitable for 
cornice and shelving, or wagon-box boards, from which 
latter the Chicago use of the term is derived. Sample 
boards may be described as follows : A board twelve 
feet long, twelve inches wide, had one knot the size 
of a dime, one cat-face knot, two saps on one side, of 
which one is narrow, running the whole length, the 
other three inches at one end, tapering out at four feet. 
Some call this a fair, others a good, A Select. 

B Box. Is thirteen inches wide and over. A board 
seventeen inches wide, sixteen feet long, with twelve 



CHICAGO YARD GRADING. 



medium knots ; another sixteen inches wide, two saps 
of two inches each on one side and ten small knots 
on the other, were seen in a pile of B Box, but were 
criticised by other graders. 

B Stock is usually twelve inch, but may include 
ten inch stocks. Eight inch B is of parallel width (7£ 
to 9) up to grade, in proportion to width. 

B Select in general character is a sap board ; if nar- 
row, one side may be well covered with sap, no knots 
on the face. Such a board may be from seven to ten 
inches. At ten to fourteen inches, some knots and 
less sap. This class makes good "one side" lumber for 
finishing boards, and in general, knots may be allowed 
of a character not to injure the board for finishing 
purposes or for cutting up. A sample board seven inch- 
es wide had bright sap nearly covering one side, the 
other a face. Another of thirteen inches had but four 
inches of meat on the sap side, the sap came through 
to the face, and there were two small knots on the face. 
Another of nine inches had sap covering one end for 
five feet, sap ran slightly on to the face of the board. 
B Select on wider pieces may combine some consider- 
able shake at the ends, if the center is good, or on 
center if the ends are good. 

The sap in this grade should be judged in the mat- 



J 



40 CHICAGO YARD GRADING. 



ter of color by its surroundings. While a black sap is 
scarcely allowable, a simple discoloration will not con- 
demn the piece if all other requisites are present. A 
piece of fair width with one clean face to work would 
admit of a blacker sap on the outside of the cut. In 
this grade also may be admitted a class of soft wide 
lumber, with large or even loose knots, where the cuts 
between the knots may give a large proportion of fin- 
ishing lumber. Such lumber is often found where the 
rules of regular and strict inspection would condemn 
a piece to the grade of cull, yet where the piece is of 
especial value for cutting up. 

Common. All good sound lumber ten feet long and 
upwards, however knotty, if the knots are tight and 
sound and not coarse enough to weaken the board, are 
included in this grade. Also sap boards, when the sap 
is fairly bright. Boards free from rot and shake, which 
involve their usefulness, are common boards. Lumber 
which will make a water-tight roof is in all markets 
included in this grade. * Splits or Checks, if straight 
and not of an extent or nature to materially injure 
the board, are generally allowable. The lumber must 



* Bad Splits and Checks, especially when not straight, will 
always condemn a board of any grade to a lower one, according to 
the effect upon its usefulness. The same is true of waney edges. 



CHICAGO YARD GRADING. 41 



be of fall standard thickness and well manufactured. 

Worm-holes may be permitted in this grade in 
number and character proportioned to the size of the 
piece, but as a rule, wormy lumber should be excluded 
as Culls. Custom has allowed common plank, measur- 
ing 1| thick, to be measured as if full two inch. A few 
worm-holes are not objectionable in dimension stuff 
unless enough in number to weaken the piece, or of a 
generally unsightly character. 

C Box is a grade of thirteen (13) inches wide and 
over, with small, sound knots. 

D Box is simply good, wide Common. 

Neither of these last two pretend to any grading 
above Common, except that their widths adapt them 
to special uses. 

Culls. Unsound lumber, loose knots, bad, black 
knots, or large, coarse knots, loose or shaky hearts, 
unedged or waney, and badly shaky lumber, black 
sap stain, especially if mouldy. All wormy lumber, 
rotten streaks, or ends badly manufactured as to thick- 
ness, wedge boards or tarved lumber (thick on one 
edge and thin on the other), or boards which wont 
hold water. All the above properly belong in Culls, 
and when unfit to be used as roofing to nail shingles 
on, or is generally unsightly in appearance, it is known 



42 CHICAGO YARD GRADING. 



as "Scoots," Refuse, or Mill-Culls, and has no quotable 
value. 

Lengths. In some yards ten feet is the standard of 
length, and all lumber is measured in even figures of 
ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen and eighteen feet; odd 
lengths are unknown unless in special orders and in 
lumber of over twenty feet. Until within the last two 
years twelve feet was the minimum of length in a mer- 
chantable piece of lumber, and most yards yet adhere 
to this rule. All lumber of less than ten feet is unsal- 
able, except when in quantities, as it is often found in 
irregular lengths at gang saw-mills, when it is known | 
as "clips." This is sometimes sorted as to quality, but 
has no classification ; it is usually sold as a bulk, either 
by the pile or by straight measure, and is often of a | 
desirable character for builders. 

Widths and Thickness. The wider a board is the ; 
more latitude is allowed for defects. This remark ap- 
plies generally to lengths, widths and thickness, al- 
though as a rule, unless a board holds plump to an in- j 
tended thickness, it is measured to the next standard j 
below. *In dimension or bill stuff such as joist, scant- I 
ling or timber, a variance in thickness is almost uni- ] 

* We would call attention to the table on page where is shown j 
the sizes and measurements in vogue in the Chicago market. 



CHICAGO YARD GRADING. 43 



versally allowed by dealers and consumers, although 
strict rules of inspection demand full sizes in all re- 
spects. 

In wholesale markets a board measuring a half inch 
or more over a certain width is measured at the next 
lower number. In retailing, however, the half inch is 
properly counted, while in some markets the "give and 
take" principle is observed ; that is, if a full half inch 
or over, it is called at the next higher figure ; if not 
full half inch it is called back to the last full figure. 

Stock Boards. A class of lumber sawed of a uni- 
form width of ten, twelve and fourteen inches. It is 
graded the same as other lumber, but its uniformity 
marks it as of superior utility for ripping into flooring, 
siding, etc., or for manufacturers requiring large quan- 
tities of certain widths for special work. The lower 
grades are mainly used as barn boards, or for coarse 
sheathing, and other similar purposes. 

Other Va7*ieties. Norway mixed with other lumber 
uniformly classes as common; but when in lots l>y 
itself, may be graded in a manner similar to white 
pine, the designation "Norway" indicating its distinct- 
ness from white pine. 

Flooring, siding and ceiling are graded according to 
the general rules applying to wider lumber, modified 



J 



44 CHICAGO YARD GRADING. 



to suit the decreased width, but are measured as the 
piece was in the rough. 

In general. As before remarked, no specific law can 
be laid down by which an inspector or grader can be 
absolutely governed, but by these general points the 
grader may be assisted in deciding which of the classi- 
fications a piece of lumber approaches the nearest to, 
all the surroundings, character of the timber, its size, 
length, thickness, and general adaptability being taken 
into consideration. Any points not touched upon 
under the head of yard grading, are supposed to be 
fully governed by the rules of the Lumberman's Ex- 
change for cargo inspection ; where these are lacking 
in detail, the Michigan inspection law is considered 
standard authority. 



CHICAGO HAKDWOOD INSPECTION. 

The Chicago rules of Hardwood Inspection do not 
materially differ from those in vogue in other localities, 
although, as in the case with pine, there are many- 
points which are the subject simply of judgment, and 
cannot be denned even in conversation, inasmuch as 
scarcely any two pieces of lumber are exactly alike, 
and each piece must be the subject of an individual 
and distinct opinion. The ensuing description has 
been carefully revised by the leading dealers in hard- 
wood in Chicago and meets with their approval as lay- 
ing down the general rules and practices of this mar- 
ket. 

The forest products embraced in the term Hardwood, 
as known to the trade, include Poplar or Whitewood, 
White Ash, White and Burr Oak, Hickory, Black 
Walnut, Cherry, Butternut, Hard Maple, Soft Maple, 
Basswood, Hickory or Hock Elm, Sycamore, Sweet 
Gum, Chestnut, "Red Cedar, and Southern or Yellow 
Pine. 

Poplar. Should be in even lengths of twelve, four- 
teen or sixteen feet; anything shorter must be very 
good and submit to an allowance in price. The prin- 



4:6 CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 



cipal thicknesses are | inch, f inch, £ inch, 1 inch, 1£ 
1|, 2, 2£, 3, 4, 5, and 6 inch. Squared should be 4x4, 
5x5, 6x6, 7x7, 8x8, 9x9 and 10x10, and should in all 
cases be i inch over these sizes to allow for shrinkage 
in drying ; ■£- and f -inch, are special sizes. 

The Inspection grades are Clear or No. 1 ; Second 
Clear or No. 2 ; Common or No. 3 ; and Culls. 

First Clear, or No. 1. Must be twelve inches or 
more in width, and free from all defects. The squared 
pieces are exempt from this rule only as to width. 
Plank from l£ inches in thickness may be of a width 
of ten inches. Bright sap not over two inches would 
be allowed in this grade. 

Second Clear, or No. 2. May be eight inches wide 
and upward, but at ten inches may have from one to 
three sound knots. If a piece is wide, a little white 
sap may be allowed on one side. All narrow, perfect 
pieces of eight inches are placed in this class. Defects 
are counted upon the basis of a knot the size of an 
English walnut (about l£ inch diameter), with an al- 
lowance of more defects in proportion to increased 
width. Splits will always drop a boar# into the grade 
below. 

Common, or No. 3. May be of any width or thick- 
ness. Will allow of discolored sap, sound knots, be- 



CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 47 



yond those described in No. 2, and wide saps. In 
narrow pieces, not more than three knots will be 
allowed. Defects may increase in number and extent 
as the width increases, but all lumber must be sound. 
Culls. All widths and sizes having more defects 
than described in Common, whether in the number or 
character of the knots, discolored sap, badly checked, 
and generally such lumber as is unfit for ordinary pur- 
poses without waste. 

WHITE ASH. 

White Ash should be in lengths of twelve, fourteen 
and sixteen feet, and the usual thicknesses are 1, li, 
H, 2, 2|, 3, 3-J and four inches. It is inspected in Nos. 
1 and 2 combined, and Cull, price being made as to 
character or preponderance of the better or poorer. 
Sap is not considered a material injury. Ash lumber 
is to be eight inches wide and over; at eight inches 
defects may be allowed equal to two small hard knots, 
l£ inch being taken as a standard. Must be free from 
hearts and dry rot. All sizes must be i plump, or 
will be reduced in grade and price. Wagon tongues 
should be cut from tough timber, butt logs, and be free 
from defects of any kind, especially cross grain ; length, 



48 CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 



twelve feet ; size, 2x4 at one end by 4x4 at the other, 
and 2|x4£ at one end by 4£ square, plump, at the other. 
Splits reduce one grade. 

Cull Ash. Includes all defective lumber, hearts, 
shakes, knots beyond standard, dead or doty timber, 
and defective sawing. 

Ash Flooring. Should be four and six inches wide, 
with one face and two edges clear; thickness, 1 and 1£ 
inches ; lengths, twelve, fourteen and sixteen feet. 

WHITE AND BURR OAK. 

Lengths should be twelve, fourteen and sixteen feet. 
Sizes 1, H, l£, 2, 2£, 3, 3$, 4 and 4£ inches. Shorter 
lengths may be allowed, but are subject to an allowance 
in price. 

It is inspected as Clear, Second Clear, Common, 
Culls, and Wagon Stock. Some yards do not make 
the grade of Second Clear, that grade enriching the 
Common. 

Clear. Must be eight inches wide and over, free 
from all defects. 

Second Clear. At eight inches wide will allow from 
one to three small sound knots, of the 1£ inch stand- 
ard, or a little bright sap. No other defects are allowed 



CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 49 

in this grade, but their extent may increase with the 
size of the piece. Splits always reduce one grade in 
oak as well as in other hardwoods. 

Common. Must be free from shake and worm 
holes ; may have sound heart in thick plank. All knots 
must be sound. 

Culls. Bad heart plank, wormy or generally un- 
sound lumber. 

Oak Flooring.' Should be four and six inches wide, 
with one face and two edges clear; thickness 1 and ±i i 
inches ; lengths, twelve, fourteen and sixteen feet. 

OAK WAGON STOCK. 

Bolsters. Should be four feet and four feet six inch- | 
es, or the multiples thereof in length. The sizes run 
3x4, 3|x4i, 3ix5 and 4x5. 

Reaches. Require plump thickness, 2x4 and 24x44% 
Lengths, eight, ten and twelve feet, clear of imperfec- j 
tions. 

Harrow Timber. Thickness, 2|x2^ and 3x3 plump. 
Lengths may be five, ten, twelve and fourteen feet. — 
Must be clear of imperfections. 

All stock should be sawed -£• plump, and bolsters i 
should allow 3 inches for check in seasoning. 



50 CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 

HICKORY WAGON STOCK. 

Hickory may be classed as Boards, Plank and Axles. 

Boards and Plank are inspected as First and Sec- 
ond Clear, in one grade. 

The lengths are ten, twelve, fourteen and sixteen 
feet; the thickness 1, l^, 1-J, 2, 2-£, 3 and 4 inches. 

The combined grade will not admit of more than 
one or two small sound knots of the lf-inch standard, 
and no other imperfection. Sap is excluded from yard 
piling and grading from its liability to powderpost in 
seasoning. 

Axles. Lengths are six and twelve feet. Sizes, 3x4, 
3|x4|, 4x5, 4x6, 4^x6 and 5x6. Must be sawed plump, j 
i-inch full, and perfect in all respects. 

Hickory should never be cut between the first of 
February and first of September, while the sap is 
rising. 

Culls. All lumber not up to the preceding grades. 

BLACK WALNUT. 

Lengths may run twelve, fourteen and sixteen 
feet, but as short as eight feet is taken if otherwise up 
to grade, with due allowance as to price. The usual 



CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 51 



thicknesses are |, 1, l£, 1|, 2, 2|, 3, 4 and 5 inches.— 
Width is a desirable point in walnut. 

It is handled in Nos. 1 and 2 combined. 

No. 1. Must be not less than eight inches in width, 
and must be free from all defects. 

No. 2. Must be not less than seven inches wide, and 
at seven inches may have a little sap, or two small 
knots of not over a 1-inch standard. Defects may in- 
crease with the width in proportion. 

Common. All not up to the standard of No. 2, but 
available in its full size without waste. 

Culls. Any width, not good enough for common, in 
which not less than one-half the piece is fit for use 
without waste. 

Walnut Flooring. Is one inch in thickness and four 
and six inches in width. The 6-inch allows for split- 
ting into narrower, when dressed, without the risk of 
warping in seasoning, which would destroy the value 
of narrower sawed stock. Must have one face and two 
edges clear. 

Newels. Should be cut outside the heart, to square 
5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 inches when seasoned. Their length 
should be four feet or the multiples thereof, and they 
must be free from all defects ; curls rightly located are 
not considered defects. 



52 CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 



Balusters. Should be cut exactly square, 2x2, 2ix2£, 
2£x2£, 3x3 and 4x4, and a full 1-16 plump. Lengths, 
thirty and thirty-two inches. Must be free from all 
defects, especially sap and shake. 

Counter Tops. Are twelve, fourteen, sixteen and 
eighteen feet in length, twenty inches and over in 
width, and strictly Clear. The longer lengths are the 
most desirable. 

In fourteen and sixteen feet lumber, ends may be cut 
where a twelve-foot length can be obtained. 

CHERRY. 

The Inspection is in grades of First and Seconds, 
and is the same as in Walnut and the same rules apply. 
Thickness may be 1, li, 11, 2, 2|, 3, 4 and 5 inches. 
Lengths, twelve, fourteen and sixteen feet. Widths, 
eight inches and over. Cherry flooring, newels and 
balusters same as Walnut. 

BUTTERNUT. 

Same as Walnut and Cherry, in grades of Firsts and 
Seconds. Lengths, twelve, fourteen and sixteen feet. 
Thickness, 1, li, H, 2, 2£ and 3 inch. Widths eight 
inches and over. 



CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 53 



HARD MAPLE. 

Is inspected in a combined grade of Firsts and Sec- 
onds. 

Lengths may run twelve, fourteen and sixteen feet. 
Thickness, 1, l£, 1|, 2. 2£, 3, 4 and 4£ inches. It must 
be not less than eight inches wide, at which one small 
(11 inch) sound knot may be allowed, but no other 
defect in the first grade. Increased defects may be 
allowed with increased widths, if located so as not to 
injure the cutting of sizes for which each thickness is 
adapted. Some yards divide into Clear, Common and 
Cull. The Clear must be ten inches and over, and 
free from all imperfections. Splits will reduce one 
grade in each quality. 

Common. May be from six inches upward, with 
imperfections which will not render the piece unavail- 
able for ordinary uses without waste. Not over two or 
three small knots, without shake, will be allowed in the 
grade. 

Culls. Include all heart shakes, badly sawed, or 
other defects, from which the piece is not good enough 
for common, but in which one-half the piece will work 
up without waste. 

Flooring should be cut from the outside of the log 



54 CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 

from the white timber, the red timber of the heart 
wood, being less valuable, and should be cut in four 
and six inch widths, 1 and l£ inch thickness, mostly 
one inch. 

SOFT MAPLE. 

Is but little in demand, but Inspection is the same 
as in Hard Maple. 

BASSWOOD. 

Basswood is used in lengths of twelve, fourteen and 
sixteeen feet. Thicknesses are 1, l£, I| and 2 inches, 
the demand being mostly for one inch. Widths may 
be eight inches and upward. Edges should be square 
as in Pine. It is inspected in the two grades of Good 
and Cull. 

Good. Includes all perfect lumber free from shake, 
black knots and hearts. Small sound knots, from one 
to five in number, do not condemn it for this grade. 

Culls. Includes all lumber not good enough for the 
preceding grade. As in Pine, a board which will not 
work at least one-half its size without waste, is a mill 
cull, and has no market value. An inordinate number 
of knots will in basswood, condemn a piece to the 
grade of culls. 



CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 55 



HICKORY. 

Hickory or Rock Elm is used in lengths of twelve, 
fourteen and sixteen feet, and in thicknesses of 1, li, 
1|, arid 2 inches. The inspection is in Good and Culls. 

Good. Comprises lumber free from hearts and 
shakes; small, sound knots from one to five in number, 
do not condemn it. 

Culls. Comprise all below the grade of good, when 
at least one-half the piece will work without waste. 

SYCAMORE. 

Same as Hickory or Rock Elm. 

SWEET GUM. 

Is inspected the same as Black Walnut. Lengths, 
twelve, fourteen and sixteen feet; thick ness, 1, l£ and 
H inches. The demand is mostly for one inch, eight 
inches wide and over. 

CHESTNUT AND CEDAR. 

Same as Sweet Gum and Black Walnut. 



56 CHICAGO HARDWOOD INSPECTION. 



SOUTHERN OR YELLOW PINE. 

In Southern or Yellow Pine this market demands 
only the best quality, the plentifulness and cheap- 
ness of White Pine effectually excluding all of the 
coarser grades of Yellow Pine. Our remarks, there 
fore, apply to the better qualities of Georgia and Flor- 
ida Pine, or lumber from sections supplying the same 
character of timber. 

It is inspected as First and Second Clear, in thick- 
ness of 1, li, l£ and 2 inches. The combined grade 
will admit of one or two small sound knots ; must be 
free from other defects. 

Flooring Strips. Are of four and six inches in 
width, with one face and two edges clear. 

The Hardwood Inspection of Chicago differs but 
little from that in vogue in other localities. It has 
been our aim in describing the different kinds of tim- 
ber, to at once afford a clew to the dealer, as to the 
designations or terms used in the trade at Chicago, 
and to afford a guide to the mill man in cutting his 
logs, as to the most available sizes into which each 
description of timber should be sawed, as well as the 
character of stock which it is advisable to ship. 



ST. LOUIS INSPECTION. 

In Wliite Pine and Hardwood inspection the cus- 
toms of St. Louis are almost identical with those of 
Chicago, so that it is unnecessary to repeat them. 
Beference may therefore, upon these points, be made 
to the chapters on Chicago Gradings or Inspection. 
Missouri and moie southern states, however, ship large 
quantities of Yellow or Pitch Pine, long leaf, to the 
St. Louis market, and the customs prevailing at that 
point are substantially the same, as regards inspection, 
as those applying to the same timber at other points. 

YELLOW PINE. 

Yellow Pine Boards are divided into Clear or First 
Rate, Second Rate, Third Rate and CulJs. 

Clear. Must be clear, free from all defects; in 
lengths of twelve, fourteen and sixteen feet, and the 
thickness one and one-sixteenth-inch. Longer even 
lengths and greater thickness is allowed, but is usually 
ordered for special purposes when needed. 

Second Bate. Has one clear face, or may have two 
defective faces ; first, when the defects are limited to a 



58 ST. LOUIS INSPECTION. 



bright sap, not over one inch in width on one or both 
edges, but without wane ; or, second, when the piece 
has one blue edge or one waney edge, neither being 
over one inch in width ; in both cases the faces being 
in all other respects clear, with the exception of one or 
two sound knots, not over one-half inch in diameter, 
which may show through the piece. 

Third Bate. A grade having more defects than de- 
scribed in Second Rate, but free from shakes, large 
unsound knots or rot. Lumber of less than standard 
thickness is included in this grade. 

Culls. Large unsound knots, shakes or rot. 

FOUR INCH STRIPS. 

Are graded as Clear or First Rate, Second Rate, 
Third Rate and Culls. Length to be twelve, fourteen 
or sixteen feet ; thickness, one and one-sixteenth inch, 
width four inches full. 

Clear or First Rate. Must be clear, as in wider 
lumber, and perfect in length, width and thickness. 

Second Mate. Either one perfect face or both faces 
being in all respects clear, except that it may have two 
sound knots of not over one-half inch in diameter, 
which may show through to both sides. 



ST. LOUIS INSPECTION. 59 



Third Bate. Will allow of more defects than Sec- 
ond Rate, but free from shake, large unsound knots or 
rot. Boards below the standard in thickness are in- 
cluded in this grade. 

Culls. Include all large unsound knots, shakes or 
rot. 

SIX INCH STRIPS. 

Are graded as Clear, or First Rate, Second Rate, 
and Culls. Lengths, twelve, fourteen and sixteen feet ; 
thickness one and one- sixteenth inch; width, six inches 
full. 

Clear or First Bate. Are perfect pieces of full 
length, width and thickness. 

Second Bate. Pine having one clear face, or two 
defective faces, where the defects are limited upon one 
face to bright sap not over one quarter of the width of 
the board on one edge, or narrow bright sap on both 
edges, but no wane; or to one blue edge or to one nar- 
row wane. Both faces must in this case be clear, except 
that three sound knots of less than one inch diameter will 
be allowed, which may show through the board, pro- 
vided they lay in a straight line parallel with the edge. 

Third Bate. May have more defects than are de- 



60 ST. LOUIS INSPECTION. 

scribed in Second Rate, but must be free from shakes, 
large unsound knots or rot. This grade also includes 
lumber below the standard thickness. 

Culls. Boards having large unsound knots, shakes 
or rot. 

STAIR PLANK. 

Are ten inches and over in width ; twelve, fourteen 
and sixteen feet in length; sawed to one and one-six- 
teenth, one and five-sixteenths and one and nine-six- 
teenths inches in thickness. 

The grading and inspection of Stair Plank are the 
same as in Boards. 



WILLIAMSPORT INSPECTION. 

The well known Allegheny region is largely repre- 
sented by the operators at Lock Haven and Williams- 
port, Pa., and the inspection customs of the former are 
governed by the rules of the West Branch Lumberman's 
Exchange, as is the case in the surrounding country, 
outside of those two points, where lumber is handled to 
any extent. As the shipments from this section are 
largely to Philadelphia and Baltimore a knowledge of 
the inspection customs of the producing point, conveys 
as well an idea of the inspection at the consuming or 
distributing points. As in all other markets allowance 
must be made for variation in practice, while the rules 
are observed as a standard. 

RULES OF INSPECTION 

Adopted by the West Branch. Lumberman's Exchange, and in 
vogue at William sport and other contiguous points. 



Selects and Better. Shall include all the better 
grades which are equal in value to the following 
described piece j not less than eight inches in width 
and perfect up to ten inches in width, except sap, 
which may be admitted one and one-half times the 
thickness on the back side. 



62 WILLIAMSPORT INSPECTION. 



Above ten inches wide will admit of imperfections 
equal to three small knots, and sap one and one-half 
times the thickness on face side; above fourteen inches 
wide will admit of imperfections equal to sap as above, 
and larger knots and straight split one-sixth the length 
of the piece; as the width increases, will admit of great- 
er imperfections, but not enough to decrease the value 
below the first described piece. 

Picks. This grade shall include all boards below 
the grade of Selects and better, that shall be equal in 
value to a piece of from six to nine inches wide, that 
shall have a perfect face, with back side sound and free 
from badly stained sap. 

Above nine inches wide, will admit of defect equal 
to sap two inches on either edge of face side, and knots 
equal to one knot two and one-half inches in diameter. 

Above thirteen inches wide may admit of defects 
equal to sap nine inches in width on either edge of 
face side, and three knots two and one-half inches in 
diameter. All boards of this grade above ten inches, 
may admit of straight split, one-sixth the length of 
the piece, but no board shall be of less value than the 
first described piece. 

Flooring. Shall include all boards below Picks 
that shall be five inches in'width, with red sound knots 



WILLIAMSPORT INSPECTION. 63 



not exceeding one and one-half inches in diameter. 
Will admit of sap one and one-half times the thickness 
of the piece, and when above ten inches in width may- 
admit of straight split one-sixth the length of the piece, 
and should be free from shakes, rot and loose knots. 

Third Common or Barn Boards. Shall include all 
lumber below the grade of flooring that is of fairly 
sound character. May admit of straight split one-quar- 
ter the length of the piece, and should be free from 
large loose knots, bad shakes and rot. 

Culls and Samples. Shall consist of all lumber of 
a generally unsound character, and where the imper- 
fections are too great to allow of the board being used 
for the ordinary uses of Third Common or Barn Boards. 
"Worthless, rotten lumber should not be counted in this 
grade. 

Pickets — No. 1. Shall be clear of knots, wane and 
black sap ; not less than seven-eighth inches thick and 
two and a half inches wide. 

No. 2. May include sound knots, stained sap and 
wane not to exceed one-half the thickness of picket. 

Square Pickets to be of same grades. 

Lath —No. 1. Shall be one and a half inches wide, 
not less than three-eighths of an inch thick, packed in 
bundles of 100 pieces to each bundle. 



64 WILLIAMSPORT INSPECTION. 

Hemlock. Shall consist of two grades; merchanta- 
ble and cull hemlock. 

Shingles. Are graded Nos. 1 and 2, and are twen- 
ty-four inches in length. 

No. 1. Should be clear of sap and knots; five- 
eighths-inch at the butt and one-eighth-inch at the 
point. 

No. 2. Should be clear at least one-third the length 
from the butt, but the balance will admit of small knots, 
if sound, and some sap. 



MAINE SURVEY. 

Maine was at one time the heaviest producing sec 
tion in White Pine. Fifty years ago the lumbermen 
of New York, Connecticut and contiguous states, made 
annual ocean voyages to Bangor and other points in 
Maine for their supplies of Pine and Spruce lumber | 
and timber, and the hardy lumbermen of that day, or 
their sons and successors, have been among the most 
forward and enterprising agents in the settlement of 
the then unknown forests of the Northwest. Year by 
year have the forests of Maine yielded to the brawn 
and muscle of the lumbermen, and the insatiate appe- 
tite of the saw-mill, until to-day the character of the 
Pine resources of the state is well depicted in the des- 
ignations which attest the prevailing systems of In- 
spection. While the quantity of pine is very much 
reduced, the quality of it has also deteriorated in pro- 
portion, and the "Survey" is less to the advantage of 
the purchaser. Maine still boasts a large supply of 
Spruce and Hemlock, and will be able to supply these 
for many years to come. In fact, from the well known 
rapid growth of Spruce, the state will, for a generation 



66 MAINE SURVEY. 



at least, be still able to supply its quota. The Sur- 
vey of Spruce is rather in favor of the purchaser. 

PINE. 

No. 1. Is entirely dispensed with, and the first qual- 
ity now recognized is called No. 2. 

No. 2. This may be of any length or width, provid- 
ed, however, that the short lengths and narrows must 
be good ; the shorter and narrower the board, the bet- 
ter the quality required. A board twelve feet long 
and five or six inches in width, must be entirely free 
from knots and sap, and must be straight in grain. 
Larger boards must be nearly free from knots, sap 
and shake. 

No. 3. Must be free from shakes, but a few knots 
or a little sap will not condemn it. The size of the 
board goes far to determine this quality; very small 
pieces, otherwise up to grade, would be classed as No. 4. 

No. 4. Is a small board usually free from knots, but 
with some sap. If large boards are put in this num- 
ber, it is because one quarter or one- third of the piece 
is shaky, although the balance may be good. 

The market recognizes, also, two kinds of shipping 
boards (designated "Shippers") viz : Smooth and Com- 
mon. 



MAINE SURVEY. 67 



Smooth Shipper*. Are boards without sr^ake or 
case knots, or any large knots. 

Common Shippers. Are boards coarse and knotty, 
eight inches and upward in width, and twelve feet and 
upward in length. (These are sometimes manufactured 
under special orders, when they may be nine inch, ten 
inch, or even greater widths.) In this grade splits, red 
streaks or very shaky boards are objectionable. 

Narrows, or Narrow Boards. Is the next grade to 
Common Shippers, and consists of boards too small 
for Shippers. These must not be very coarse ; must 
be suitable for floor boards. 

Poor Fours. These consist of sappy, shaky, or 
knotty boards, not suited to be classed in either of the 
foregoing descriptions. 

Scoots. Are the lowest grade ; rotten boards and all 
others not admissable in other grades are surveyed as 
scoots. 

The market also handles what is termed Sapling 
Pine or Gang Boards. These are usually manufac- 
tured in gang mills, the survey as to quality being 
about the same as the balance of the grades described, 
except as to designation, the 2s, 3s and 4s being put 
together under the one term planers. The shippers, 



68 MAINE SURVEY. 



narrow boards, poor 4s and scoots are surveyed as 
described under those heads. 

Gutter and Beck Plank. The rule last described 
is also applied to gutter and deck plank. 

SPRUCE. 

Spruce is known in the two qualities of Merchanta- 
ble and Scoots. The scoots comprise boards which 
are cross grained, renty or rotten. In surveying the 
grades are divided into two qualities, viz: Floor 
Boards and Coarse. The floor boards must be nearly 
free from knots, all others are coarse. 



BURLINGTON, VERMONT. 

Although doing a large business in lumber the ex- 
tensive market of Burlington has no systematized 
method of inspection. Steps are, however, in progress 
looking to that end, and probably before long rules 
and regulations regarding inspection will be adopted 
by the dealers in that section. While each lumber- 
man now has an inspector of his own, a variety of cus- 
toms prevail, notwithstanding an endeavor on the part 
of all toward uniformity. 

The grades recognized in the Burlington market are 
as follows : Selects, Shelving, Second Shelving, Pick- 
ings, Shippers, Box, and Mill Culls. 

These gradings apply to wide lumber from eight 
inches and upward. 

Strips twelve feet long and upward are classed as 
1st Quality, 2d Quality, 3d Quality and Box. 

Under twelve feet in length the classes of seconds 
and thirds are combined as one, while all unfit for this 
grade go into a still lower grade of 3d Quality or into 
a new grade of Box. 

Spruce is divided into three grades, namely : Clear, 
No. 1 and No. 2. (See Maine Survey.) 



70 BURLINGTON INSPECTION. 

Selects. Comprise the finer grades of lumber, and 
include all fair widths approaching to the upper grades 
of other markets, and suited to all the finer finishing 
purposes, for which the timber is adapted. 

Shelving. Includes ten, twelve and fourteen-inch 
stock, and is classed as first and second shelving, as to 
relative quality and adaptability to the purpose indi- 
cated ; first quality ranks about seven dollars per thous- 
and below selects, while the second quality is from five 
to seven dollars below the first. In both qualities more 
or less knots and sap will be allowed, not affecting the 
board for the purpose from which it derives its name. 

Pickings. A grade of lumber of any width, suited 
to one side finishing, embracing sap boards, and gen- 
erally such lumber as while from width not fitted for 
shelving, is more defective than selects, yet filling a 
position which must otherwise be occupied by selects. 
As in other markets, it may be called the cream of the 
common. It is relatively in price about twelve dollars 
below selects. 

Shippers. Are of diversified widths, without shake 
or case knots, and free from large coarse knots, com- 
prising the best of the common after the picks are re- 
moved. 

Box. Comprise a grade poorer than shippers, yet 



BURLINGTON INSPECTION. 71 



taking the run of the common, in all fairly sound and 
merchantable lumber. In price it is from two to three 
dollars below shippers. 

The grades of shelving (first and second) Pickings, 
Shippers and Box are, one and all, selections from 
Common, made with reference to adaptability to the 
uses indicated by their designations. 

Mill Culls. Are the poorest grade of lumber adapt- 
ed to any utility, or recognised as merchantable, and 
bear the same description as the same grade in other 
markets. 



NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 

TIMBER. 

Bound, Length of all logs measured to square butt 
of log, if with pins at ends, length measured inside of 
one of the pins, allowing the other. Proportional de- 
ductions made from length for extra pins or faults. 

Octagon Logs, or logs having more than four faces, 
shall be measured at small end, string measure, girting 
the log, and one-quarter of the girt shall be considered 
as the fourth of the square. Waney logs, however, 
not to be comprised amongst the above, but to be 
measured as explained hereafter. 

If crooked, the lines shall be drawn to make the 
same the chord of the arc of each crook or bend, thus 
shaping it a perfect squared log from extreme points. 

Cyjjreas Timber in round logs, when pecky, ten feet 
off length of logs shall be allowed and deducted as com- 
pensation for said fault. 

Poplar and Cottonwood in round logs to be re- 
ceived at inspection must measure twenty-four inches 
diameter, inside bark, by twelve feet long. 

Black Walnut In round logs, none shall be received 
as merchantable measuring less than twenty-six inches 



I 
NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 73 



diameter, inside bark, and ten feet long, unless by 
special agreement. 

Squared or Waney. All logs to be measured gross 
and net. Gross measurement taken at largest end or 
stump, for the square, and at the extreme length of log 
or spur if any in same. Net measurement taken mid- 
ways of log, deducting for net on square logs one inch 
off two sides of logs, and if waney an additional reduc- 
tion proportional to wane. In domestic timber with 
pins or pin holes, the length for net measurement must 
be taken inside pins or pin holos. 

Logs of lengths under regulations to be called log 
ends, and shall be paid on their net measurement one- 
half price paid for logs of standard dimension. 

Sawed or hewed timber shall be put in three classes, 
viz : Choice, Prime and Merchantable. 

Choice. To be sound, square edged and square but- 
ted ; must not show more than two inches of sap on 
either face, free from circular shakes or unsound 
knots. 

Prime. To be sound and square butted, to show 
heart on each face, may show place of wane not to ex- 
ceed two feet at any one place, and that not more than 
three places in any one corner. 

Merchcmtable. To be sound and square butted, not 



74 NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 



more than three inches in width of wane on a corner, 
need not show heart on any side. 

SPARS. 

Mast Sticks. Must be worked eight square, and 
must be straight, well hewn, and show heart every four 
feet in length on every face ; free from coarse or un- 
sound knots and other defects; knots over two inches 
in diameter are called coarse ; ring knots and knots less 
than three feet apart condemned. Not more than four 
knots must be left in one spar, and must be worked 
with as little taper as possible. 

LENGTH. * DIAMETER AT CENTER. DIAMETER AT TOP. 

66 feet. Not less than 21 inches. Not less than 17 inches. 

69 feet. " " " 23 " " " " 18 

76 feet. " " " 26 " ' 19 

79 feet. " " " 27 " " " " 20 

82 feet. " " " 28 " " " " 21 

Ordinary spars may be hewn four square, though 
eight square is preferred, may show wane on four cor- 
ners full length, not over three inches wide in widest 
place ; must show heart full length on four sides, taper 
as little as possible ; must be straight and free from 
coarse or unsound knots or other defects. King knots 
and knots less than three feet apart condemned. Not 
more than four knots must be left in one spar. 

LENGTH. DIAMETER AT CENTER. 

66@68 feet 17 inches and upward. 

69@72 feet. 18 inches and upward. 

73@76 feet 19 inches and upward. 

77@80 feet 20 inches and upward. 

81@84 feet 21 inches and upward. 



NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 75 



Octagon spars measured with calliper, and square 
spars with dip rod (three inch hook). Size and length 
required to hold full. Fractional parts of an inch or 
foot not counted. 

N. B. All the above correspond also to cypress, with 
only two exceptions. 1st. That cypress having small 
hollow knots inside the logs, when manufactured in 
lumber, such knots are not allowed in classes Choice 
and Prime, but only in class Merchantable. 2d. That 
cypress, whether it be timber or lumber, can be re- 
ceived in lengths of twelve feet and upward unless dif- 
ferently stipulated by contract or agreement. 

WHITE OAK AND ASH. 

White oak and ash shall be No. 1 or Choice, No. 2 
or Prime, No. 3 or Merchantable. 

Choice or No. 1. Logs to be from body of tree 
thirty-five or fifty feet long and upward, eighteen to 
thirty inches square and upward. To be square butt- 
ed with saw, straight grained, free from heart or side 
rot, worm holes, large or unsound knots, splits, checks, 
shakes, frost or sun cracks ; good, sound sap on two 
corners allowed, not to exceed one inch in each corner 
for every twelve inches in width. If hewn, free from 
spalls and ax scores, and not to taper over one and one- 
half inch for every twenty feet in length, and squared 



76 NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 

to sharp edge. Pins allowed, if these should be the 

only defect, provided same be found only at both ends, 

and one side of logs, and not further than six inches 

j from each end, but none in the middle, nor on two sides 

J of logs. 

Prime or No. 2. Length to be from twenty-five to 
fifty feet and upwards, and to be sixteen to twenty-five 
inches square and upward, straight grained. To be 
| square butted with saw, splits or checks to be parallel 
I to two sides of log on one end, and allowed at the other 
| end if parallel to the same side of the opposite end. \ 
\ Sap if sound and good allowed on three corners, not to 
j exceed one inch in each corner for every twelve inch- 
I es in width. Timber to be free from worm holes, 
large and unsound knots, wind or other shakes, sun | 
cracks allowed only on one side or face of logs ; pins 
or pin holes allowed if not more than nine inches from 
each end and only on one side of logs. Diameter of 
s heart rottenness, if any, not to exceed one-twelfth of i 
diameter of log, and not to exceed one foot for every ; 
twenty feet in length, but no side rottenness allowed. 
If sawed or hewed, to taper as per Class No. 1, wane not 
to exceed one and one-half inch to perfect square of | 
logs. If hewed to be free from ax scores. 
Merchantable, or No. 3. Logs to be twenty to thir 



NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 77 



ty feet and upward in length, and to be nothing under 
fourteen to twenty inches and upward square; to be 
square butted with saw, splits or checks allowed as in 
Class No. 2. Sap allowed on four corners not to exceed 
one inch in each corner for every twelve inches in 
width. Timber to be free from large or unsound knots 
and worm holes. Wind or other shakes at one end of 
log received ; sun or frost cracks allowed on two sides 
of logs, pins and pin holes at end and in middle, if not 
too numerous and only on one side of logs. Heart rot- 
tenness received as per Class No. 2, and a slight side 
rottenness received if only on one side. If log hewn, 
ax scores admitted if not too numerous. Wane not to 
exceed two inches to perfect square of logs. Logs to 
taper two inches for each twenty feet in length. Any 
timber not within above classification is called rejected 
and cannot be branded as inspected, though by special 
contract it may be accepted by purchasers. 

Classification of Pine, Cypress, Poplar, Cotton and 
other soft woods. All kinds of lumber are measured 
full contents, the question of sap, etc., etc., being al- 
ways determined by contract and stipulated classifica- 
tion of same. 

Flitch. All kinds of flitch to be measured at small 



78 NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 

end of pieces, inside sap on one edge and sap measured 
on the other edge. 

Deals. Deals shall be put in three classes, -viz. : 
Choice, Prime and Merchantable. 

Choice. Sound, square edged and square butted 
with saw, all heart with exception of small streaks of 
sap on one face, comparatively free from knots, and en- 
tirely free from shakes and splits, nine inches and up- 
ward in width, three inches and upward in thickness, 
and twelve feet and upward in length. 

Prime. Sound, square edged and square butted, 
one heart face, three-fourths heart on the other face, 
entirely free from shakes, splits, large or unsound 
knots, nine inches wide and upward, and twelve feet 
long and upward. 

Merchantable. Sound, square edged and square 
butted, one heart face and show heart on other face, 
free from through shakes, splits and unsound knots, 
nine inches wide and upward, three inches thick and 
upward, and twelve feet long and upward. 

Scantling. Scantling shall be put in two classes, 
viz : Prime and Merchantable. 

Prime. Must be square edged, three corners heart, 
sound, evenly sawed, free from large or unsound knots, 
through shakes or splits, twelve feet long and upward, 



NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 79 



sizes 2x3 to 11x11 inclusive. Sizes from 8x8 to 11x11 
inclusive may show sap on all corners, but not to ex- 
ceed one to one and one-fourth inch on any one corner 
in proportion to the width of the scantling. 

Merchantable. Sound, square edged, evenly sawed, 
free from through shakes and splits, sizes same as 
Prime. Four corners sap allowed as in class Prime. 

Plank. Plank shall be put in two classes, viz: 
Prime and Merchantable. 

Prime. Must be sound, one heart face, two-thirds 
heart on the other face, square edged, evenly sawed, 
free from through shakes or splits, large or unsound 
knots, one and one-fourth to three inches thick by ten 
inches and upward and twelve feet long and upward. 

Merchantable. Sound, one heart face, evenly sawed, 
square edged, free from through shakes, splits or un- 
sound knots, one and one-quarter to three inches thick, 
ten inches wide and upward, twelve feet long and up- 
ward. 

Flooring. Flooring shall be put in three classes, 
viz : Clear, Prime and Merchantable. 

Clear. Must be sound, free from sap, knots, shakes 
and splits. 

Prime. Must have one face free from sap, and the 
opposite merchantable. 



80 NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 



Merchantable. Must show one-half heart on most 
sappy face the whole length, free from through and 
round shakes or unsound knots. 

All flooring must be sawed plump for any size it is 
calculated for. 

Edge boards must be one or one and one-fourth inch 
thick, any width or length, must be sound, square 
edged, free from loose knots or splits, and show heart 
on both sides. 

All lumber of a merchantable quality and upward 
must be square butted. All refuse cullings, or lumber 
of a quality below these classifications to have no class 
but be sold on its merits. Cypress lumber has two 
special classifications besides those similar to pine, as 
follows : 

Narrow. — To be from four to nine inches in width, 
three-quarters to one inch thick, and must be sound, 
square edged and free from sap. 

Box Stuff. — To be of any width from two inches and 
upward, and of one inch full thickness, square edged 
and free from sap. 

Lumber. Is to be classed also No. 1 or Choice, No. 
2 or Prime and No. 3. or Merchantable. 

Choice or No. 1. Shall be sound, square edged and 
butted with saw, and evenly sawed. Widths to be from 



NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 81 

twenty to thirty inches and upward. Thickness from 
one-half to eight inches. Length from twenty-five to 
fifty feet and upward. Entirely free from splits, checks, 
large and unsound knots, pins or pin holes, frost or 
sun cracks, worm holes, wind or other shakes, and with 
only one-eighth of an inch of sound sap on one corner, 
for every twenty inches in width. 

Prime or No. 2. Shall be square edged, butted with 
saw and evenly sawn. Widths from sixteen to twenty 
inches and upward. Length from twenty to fifty feet 
and upward ; entirely free from shakes, frost and sun 
cracks, splits, large or unsound knots, and worm holes. 
Only two pins or pin holes accepted at each end at six 
to nine inches from end, and one inch sound sap on 
| two corners allowed for every sixteen inches in width. 

Merchantable, or No. 3. Shall be square edged, 
square butted with saw, and evenly sawn. One heart 
face on one side and must show heart on two-thirds of 
length of other face; sap, however, must be sound. 
Free from through shakes -or through splits, and en- 
tirely free from large or unsound knots. Pins or pin 
holes as per Class No. 2. Sun and frost cracks allowed 
on sappy face only, and not to go beyond two inches in 
depth on any one face. Lengths from sixteen to twen- 
ty feet or more. 



82 NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 

Flitch. $ame classifications but dimensions to be 
taken as stated under the head of Classification. 

BLACK WALNUT, CHERRY AND OTHER DOMESTIC 
HARDWOODS. 

Timber. Shall be put in four classes, viz : No. 1, or 
Choice, No. 2 or Prime, No. 3 or Merchantable, and 
Be fuse. 

Choice or No. 1. Logs to be from body of tree, 
straight grained, and from twelve feet and upward in 
length, and from twenty-eight inches and upward 
square ; to taper only three-quarters to one inch for 
every twelve feet in length. To be square butted with 
saw, free from all defects to make it suitable to best 
kind of work. "Wane allowed one and one-half inch to 
full square of log for every ten inches width or depth. 
Pins allowed, if this be the only defect, provided the 
same be found only at both ends, and on one side of 
logs, and not farther than six inches from each end. 

Prime> or No. 2. Logs from body of tree and in 
length same as No. 1, and with same taper, and from 
twenty-two inches and upward square. To be straight 
grained, square butted with saw, free from shakes, bad 
or large knots, heart or side rottenness, one and one- 
half inch for every ten inches in width or depth al- 
lowed for wane and corresponding sap to same, also 



NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 83 

pins at both ends of logs, but not further than six inch- 
es from each end, and shall be free from splits not 
parallel to one face. 

Merchantable, or' No. 3. Logs in length of ten feet 
and upward, and eighteen inches square and upward. 
Taper and wane allowed as in class No. 2 ; free from 
bad shakes, large or unsound knots, and bad splits; 
pins allowed as in class No. 2, also splits at the ends of 
logs though not parallel to sides. 

Refuse. All timber losing one-third or more of its 
measurement as allowance for defects shall be called 
Refuse, and will be considered unfit for shipment un- 
less differently stipulated in contracts of sale. 

Lumber. Shall be divided in three classes, viz: 
No. 1, No. 2 and Refuse. 

No. 1. Includes all boards, planks and joist free 
from rot, shakes, and nearly free from knots, sap and 
bad taper. All pieces to be evenly sawed, square but- 
ted, and square edged. Knots to be small and sound, 
and so few as not to cause waste to the best kind of 
work. A small split on one end of a board or plank, if 
not too long and parallel with edge of piece, i3 also 
classed No. 1. 

No. 2. All pieces must be square edged and evenly 
sawed ; this class includes all other descriptions if so 



84 NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 

manufactured, except when one-third is worthless, that 
is, boards, joist or planks containipg sap, knots, splits 
on one end, and all these imperfections combined make 
less than one-third of a piece unfit for good work, and 
only fit for ordinary purposes, such piece is classed 
No. 2. 

Refuse. Includes all boards, planks or joists badly 
manufactured by being sawed in a diamond shape, 
smaller in one part than in another, splits on both ends, 
or with long split or splits not parallel to edge, with 
large and bad knots, worm or pin holes, sap, rot, shakes, 
or any other imperfections which would cause any one 
piece of lumber to be one-third worthless or waste. 

MAHOGANY, SPANISH CEDAR, AND OTHER LIKE FOREIGN 
HARDWOODS. 

Timber. Shall be put in four classes, viz. : Choice, 
Prime, Merchantable and Refuse. 

Choice Cedar. Must be straight grained, free from 
knots and all and every other defect. Shall be manu- 
factured straight and evenly, may be hewed or sawed 
and ought to be square butted with saw before ship- 
ment, as all slant heads shall be deducted from gross 
to sale measurement, full up to perfect square of logs, 
which must measure from twelve feet and upward long, 
and eighteen inches and upward square. Wane of 



NEW OKLEANS INSPECTION. 85 

three-fourths of one inch to perfect square is permit- 
ted, but is invariably deducted in its proportional ratio 
to the log from gross to sale measurement. 

Choice Mahogany. Will correspond to above speci- 
fications, except that logs may be curly or crossgrained, 
and sizes must be twelve feet long and upward, and 
twenty inches and upward square. 

Prime Cedar. Must be straight grained and free 
from large knots, small ones, if sound, being allowed. 
Shall be manufactured as in class Choice. "Wormy sap 
not objectionable if worm holes do not go through to 
the body of the wood, and a wane of two inches to per- 
fect square of logs is permitted, also, rotten or decayed 
heart not to exceed one-eighth of length of log ; splits 
not to be over six inches for every ten feet of length 
of log, and sun checks not to be over two inches deep 
in any one face are also permitted, and though all these 
defects are permitted, they are invariably deducted 
from the gross to the net, or sale measurement. Logs 
must be ten feet and upward long, and sixteen inches 
and upward square. 

Prime Mahogany. Shall correspond to all the above 
specifications except that logs may be cross-grained, 
curly and have large knots, if sound, and that sizes 



86 NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 



must be ten feet long and upward, and eighteen inches 
and upward square. 

Merchantable Cedar. Logs may be manufactured 
somewhat uneven, but ought to be square butted with 
saw, as explained in class Choice. Can be crooked, 
waney, sappy, wormy, split, sun checked, and have rot- 
ten heads and knots, large or small, provided the logs 
shall not lose more than one-third from the gross to the 
net sale measurement for these defects. Logs can be 
from nine feet long and upwarcj, and fourteen inches 
square and upward. Wood may be curly or cross- 
grained. 

Merchantable Mahogany. Shall correspond to all 
the above specifications. 

Refuse Cedar and Mahogany. All other descrip- 
tions of wood admitted in this class which by its de- 
fects will lose more than one-third from the gross to 
the net sale measurement, provided logs shall measure 
nine feet long and upward, and twelve inches square 
and upward. 

Lumber. Shall be put in three classes, viz. : Choice, 
Prime and Merchantable. 

Choice. Includes all boards, planks and joists, to be 
square edged, evenly sawed and free from sap, rot, 
shakes or splits, knots, if any, to be small and sound, 



NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 87 



and free from any fault which may cause waste for the 
best kind of work. 

Boards and planks to be not less than eighteen inch- 
es wide and upward. 

Prime. To be manufactured as class Choice, splits 
parallel to edge of piece allowed if not exceeding six 
inches long for every ten feet in length of piece. A 
streak of sap on two corners allowed, and pieces not to 
be less than fifteen inches and upward wide. 

Merchantable. Includes all other descriptions of 
boards, planks and joists, provided all imperfections 
combined shall not make one-third of the measurement 
of any piece, any such being rejected and not entitled 
to classification. 

CIGAR CEDAR STUFF. 

Cigar Cedar Stuff shall be put in two classes, viz. : 
No. 1 and No. 2. 

No. 1. All boards to be perfect, free of knots, splits, 
sap, worm holes, and any defect which would render 
any piece unfit for the best work. 

No. 2. Includes all other descriptions, except when 
one-third worthlesss, in which case any such piece is 
rejected, purchasers having the right to refuse them 
altogether. 

All lumber, such as planks, boards, scantlings, joists, 



NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 



and deals, shall have their full contents marked on 
each piece, and the certificate given by the inspector 
will state all items of specifications corresponding to 
the survey made, and also the number of pieces of each 



For round timber the certificate of the inspector 
will only give the net contents of each log, and for 
square timber the logs shall be numbered, and the cer- 
tificate of measurement must correspond to each num- 
ber, giving both the gross and net measure of each, 
and the faults found when surveying them. 

In all circumstances domestic timber of all descrip- 
tions, when rafted, will class Choice, if with no other 
fault in same but wooden pins needed for its safety in 
rafting it, provided, however, that same be placed only 
at both ends of logs not further than nine inches from 
each end, and none in the middle. 

STAVES. 

No. 1, pipe 60 in. long, 5@6 in. wide, 1 ^ in. thick on thin edge. 

No. 2, pipe.... 56 " 5@6 " 1^ " 

No. 3, pipe 56 " 4@5 "1 

No. l,hogsh'd.48 " 5©6 " 1^ 

No. 2, hogsh'd.44 " 5@6 " l 1 ^ 

Claret staves .40 " 5@6 " l 1 ^ " " 

Barrel staves. 33 " 5@6 " 1*2 

All of the above staves must be made of white oak, 
over cup or cow oak, and riven with the grain to as 
equal thickness as possible. If in riving, a stave is 



NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 89 

thicker ou the back, the surplus timber should be tak- 
en off, thus making both edges about even in thickness. 
An allowance of two inches should be made for crook- 
ed sawing, otherwise many staves will be under the re- 
quired length. Staves must be clear of sap, heart, 
knots, short crooks, wind shakes and worm holes. The 
proper manner of sapping is to strike the stave at the 
end, leaving a slight bulge in the center. The timber 
must be cut when the sap is down, that is during the 
fall and winter. When a stave is spoiled by any of 
the defects above named, it should be sawed down to 
the length of a shorter dimension, as many defective 
60 inch staves by sawing would make good 44, 40 or 33 
inch staves. Staves are sold by the thousand of 1,200 
pieces. 

Hoop poles should be of smooth barked hickory, free 
from heavy butts and switch tops. Hogshead poles 
12@14 feet in length and one full inch in diameter at 
the top. Barrel poles eight feet in length and full 
three-fourths of an inch at the top. Half barrel poles 
seven feet long, one-half inch at top. 



90 NEW ORLEANS INSPECTION. 



BOSTON INSPECTION. 

The inspection of Boston is under the state law. 
This law provides for a surveyor general, appointed 
every three years by the governor, who in turn appoints 
a sufficient number of deputy surveyors, removable at 
his pleasure, and for whom he shall be responsible. 
These officers are under bonds for the faithful dis- 
charge of their duties, and a record is kept and re- 
turned annually to the secretary of the commonwealth, 
specifying the amount and various kinds and qualities 
of lumber surveyed during the year. 

The law provides for the following classification : 

PINE BOARDS AND PLANK. 

Of pine boards and planks, except southern pine, 
there shall be six sorts. The first shall be denomi- 
nated number one, and include boards not less than 
one inch thick, square edged, free from rot, shakes, 
and nearly free from knots and sap, except such boards 
and planks as are not less than fifteen inches wide, and 
not more than one-eighth waste, which shall be re- 
ceived as number one. The second sort shall be de- 
nominated number two, and include boards not less 



BOSTON INSPECTION. 91 



than one inch thick, and of which not less than seven- 
eighths is suitable for planing and first class finish : 
provided, that such boards as are clear but deficient in 
thickness as aforesaid, shall be received as number two. 
The third sort shall be denominated number three, 
| and include boards not less than seven-eighths of an 
inch thick, and of which not less than three-fourths is 
suitable for planing and second-class finish. The 
fourth sort shall be denominated number four, and in- 
clude boards not less than seven-eighths of an inch 
thick, nearly free from rot and nearly square edged, 
free from loose and large branch knots, and suitable 
for covering buildings; all Norway pine boards and 
planks shall be included in the fourth, fifth and sixth 
sorts. The fifth sort shall be denominated number 
five, and include all boards and planks of every descrip- 
tion not being within the other four denominations, 
except when one-third is worthless, which boards and 
planks shall be denominated refuse. 

DIMENSION. 

Of pine joists and dimension timber there shall be 
three sorts. The first sort shall be denominated num- 
ber one, and include all joists and dimension timber 
that are sound and nearly square edged. The second 
sort shall be denominated number two, and include all 



92 BOSTON INSPECTION. 

other descriptions, except when one-third is worthless, 
which joists and dimension timber shall be denomina- 
ted refuse. 

SPRUCE, ETC. 

Of spruce, hemlock, juniper, and southern pine, 
boards, planks, sawed timber, and joists, there shall be 
three sorts. The first sort shall be denominated num- 
ber one, and include all boards, planks, sawed timber, 
and joists, that are sound and nearly square edged. 
The second sort shall be denominated number two, 
and include all other descriptions, except when one- 
third is worthless, which boards, planks, sawed timber, 
and joists, shall be denominated refuse. 

HARDWOOD. 

Of ash, maple, and other hardwood and ornamental 
boards, planks and joists, there shall be three sorts. 
The first shall be denominated number one, and in- 
clude all boards, planks and joists, that are free from 
rot, shakes and bad knots. The second sort shall be 
denominated number two, and include all other des- 
criptions, except when one-third is worthless, which 
boards, planks and joists shall be denominated refuse. 

HEWED TIMBER. 

Of hewed timber, except mahogany and cedar, there 
shall be three sorts. The first sort shall be denomi- 



BOSTON INSPECTION. 93 



nated number one, and include all timber that is sound 
and nearly square edged. The second sort shall be 
denominated number two, and include timber of all 
other descriptions, except when one-third is worth- 
less, which timber shall be denominated refuse. 

SHIP KNEES. 

Of oak, juniper and spruce knees, there shall be two 
sorts. The first sorb shall be denominated number one, j 
and include all sound knees of the following dimen- 
sions : arm or root one foot six inches long, body of i 
knee three feet long, working thickness four inches ; 
arm or root two feet and six inches long, body of knee | 
three feet long, working thickness five inches; arm or i 
root two feet and nine inches long, body of knee three i 
feet and six inches long, working thickness six inches; j 
arm or root three feet and three inches long, body of | 
knee four feet and six inches long, working thickness j 
seven inches; arm or root three feet and six inches j 
long, body of knee four feet and three inches long, | 
working thickness eight inches; arm or root three feet j 
and nine inches long, body of knee four feet and six 
inches long, working thickness nine inches ; arm or 
root four feet long, body of knee five feet long, work- 
ing thickness ten inches and upwards. The second 
sort shall be denominated refuse, and shall include all 



94 BOSTON INSPECTION. 



other descriptions of less dimensions than those speci- 
fied in the first denomination; all knees shall have the 
working thickness marked thereon, and on the first 
sort the number "one" shall be marked. 

The survey laws of this commonwealth were changed 
in 1878, making the survey of lumber optional, not 
obligatory. It is therefore the custom to buy and sell 
at western inspection, eastern inspection, mill survey, 
or at Boston survey, whichever way a contract is 
made. 

The various sorts of dressed lumber are recognized, 
and the grading of western stock into Uppers, Selects 
and Fine Common is understood, being bought and 
sold by such inspection, without reference to Boston 
survey. 



QUEBEC CULLING. 

EXTRACTS FROM THE CULLER'S ACT, GIVING RULES FOR 

THE MEASUREMENT OF TIMBER, MASTS, SPARS, 

DEALS, STAVES, ETC., ETC. 

All culling in Quebec must be done under the speci- 
fication of an act of the Provincial Parliament, from 
which we extract the following salient points. 

All square timber must be measured by one of three 
modes. 

First Measured off in the raft or otherwise, giving 
the full cubical contents without allowance or deduc- 
tion. 

Second. Measured in shipping order (which shall 
mean sound, fairly made timber) ; gum seams closed 
at the butt, and sound knots not to be considered un- 
soundness — lengths under the merchantable standard 
hereinafter mentioned, and not less than twelve feet 
long to be received if, in the opinion of the Culler, 
the same be fit for shipment. 

Third. Culled and measured in a merchantable 
state, in accordance with the rules, standards and limit- 
ations hereinafter described. (8 Vic, cap. 49, sec. 9.) 



QUEBEC CULLING. 



In measuring timber .the Culler employed for that 
purpose shall measure the length of each piece, togeth- 
er with the girth, and shall provide himself with a 
measuring rod and tape, which shall, in all cases, be 
English measure, tested and compared with a standard 
kept in the office of the Supervisor (such rod having a 
hook at the end five-eighths of an inch long) ; and also 
with a scribing knife, with which he shall mark, in leg- 
ible characters, the length, breadth and thickness of 
all square timber measured or culled by him, and the 
mark, initials or number of the party, if required. And 
every Culler shall provide himself with a proper stamp 
with the initials of his name in legible characters, and 
with the following capital letters in addition : 

M, which shall denote what is merchantable. 

U, which shall denote what is sound and of mer- 
chantable quality, but under merchantable size. 

S, which shall denote what is second quality. 

T, shall denote what is third quality. 

R, shall denote what is rejected or unmerchantable; 
which marks shall be indented or stamped on the end 
of each article of lumber culled, in terms of merchant- 
able standard hereinafter described, except West India 
and barrel staves, boards, lath wood and handspikes. 

In all cases the Supervisor and Cullers shall be gov- 



QUEBEC CULLING. 97 

erned by the following descriptions, rules, standards 
and limitations, in ascertaining and certifying the mer- 
chantable size and quality of lumber submitted to their 
culling. 

SQUARE WHITE OAK TIMBER. 

First Quality. Shall be free from rot, rotten knots 
(affecting the surrounding wood), open rings and large 
grub or worm holes ; but small worm holes and shakes 
shall be allowed, according to the judgment of the 
Culler. 

Second Quality. Shall be oak not coming within 
the definition of first quality, and which in the judg- 
ment of the Culler is not culls. 

SQUARE HARD GRAY OR ROCK ELM. 

Shall be free from rots, open rings and rotten knots, 
(affecting the surrounding wood) ; but shakes and sliv- 
ers shall be allowed according to the judgment of the 
Culler. 

WHITE OR YELLOW PINE TIMBER. 

Shall be free from rot, rotten knots (affecting the 
surrounding wood), worm holes, open shakes and open 
rings ; but sound knots shall be allowed, according to 
the judgment of the Culler. 

SQUARE RED PINE TIMBER 

Shall be free from rots, rotten knots, (affecting the 



98 QUEBEC CULLING. 



surrounding wood), wormholes, shakes and splits; but 
sound knots shall be allowed according to the judg- 
ment of the culler. 

SQUARE ASH, BASSWOOD AND BUTTERNUT. 

Shall be of the same quality as White or Yellow 
Pine square timber. 

SQUARE BIRCH. 

Shall be free from rot, rotten knots, splits and 
shakes and shall be allowed two inches of wane. 

MASTS, BOWSPRITS AND RED PINE SPARS. 

Shall be sound, free from bad knots, rents and 
shakes, and the heartwood shall be visible in spots 
at or near the partners. 

HICKORY HANDSPIKES. 

Shall be six feet long, and three and a half inches 
square at the smaller end. 

ASH OARS. 

Shall be three inches square on loin, and five inches 
broad on the blade. The blade shall be one-third of 
the length of the oar; and such oars shall be cleft 
straight on all sides, and free from large knots, splits 
and shakes. 

LATH WOOD. 

Shall be cut in lengths of from three to six feet, 
and measured by the cord of eight feet in length, by 



QUEBEC CULLING. 99 



four feet in height. To be merchantable shall be free 
from rot, and split freely ; each billet may contain to 
the extent of three or four open case knots, provided 
they run in line, or nearly so ; and it shall not have 
more than one twist. 

PINE OK FIR BOARDS. 

Shall not be less than ten feet in length, nor less 
than one inch in thickness, nor less than seven inches 
in breadth, equally broad from end to end, edged with 
a saw, or neatly trimmed by a straight line, and shall 
be free from rot, bad knots, rents and shakes, and of 
equal thickness on both edges from end to end ; but 
the color alone of any board shall not be sufficient cause 
for its rejection, if it is in other respects sound and 
merchantable, and of the dimensions required by this 
Act. 

WHITE OR YELLOW PINE DEALS. 

First Quality to be merchantable. Shall be free 
from rot, rotten knots, grub worm holes, open case 
knots, shakes and splits (a slight sun crack excepted) ; 
and sound knots and hard black knots to be allowed 
as follows : if not exceeding three in number, and not 
exceeding upon the average one inch and a quarter di- 
ameter; if exceeding three and not exceeding six in 
number, and upon an average not exceeding three- 



100 QUEBEC CULLING. 



quarters of an inch in diameter ; this proportion of 
knots to be allowed for a deal eleven inches in width 
and twelve feet in length ; and deals of greater or less 
dimensions to be allowed for in proportion, according 
to the judgment of the Culler. Wane equal to half an 
inch on one side if running the whole length of the 
deal to be allowed ; and if not exceeding half the length 
of each deal, three-quarters of an inch to be allowed ; 
they shall be free from black or dead sap (with a slight 
exception, at the discretion of the Culler. 

WHITE OR YELLOW PINE SECOND QUALITY DEALS. 

Second Quality. Shall be free from rot, rotten 
knots and splits, with slight exceptions at the discre- 
tion of the Culler ; and sound knots and hard black 
knots to be allowed as follows ; if not exceeding six in 
number, and not exceeding upon the average one inch 
and a half in diameter ; if exceeding six, and not ex- 
ceeding twelve in number, and not exceeding upon the 
average one inch and one quarter in diameter (small 
knots under half an in inch in diameter not to be 
counted or considered), this proportion of knots to be 
allowed for a deal eleven inches wide and twelve feet 
in length, and deals of greater or less dimensions to be 
allowed for in proportion, according to the judgment 
of the Culler: heart, shakes and sun cracks not ex- 



QUEBEC CULLING. 101 



ceeding three-fourths of an inch to one inch in depth 
to be allowed, as also worm holes, at the judgment of 
the Culler ; wane of half an inch to one inch to be al- 
lowed, according to the quality of the deal; in other 
respects at the judgment of the Culler. Deals reject- 
ed as not coming within the standard of merchantable, 
or second quality, shall be classed as culls, except that 
the Culler may, if requested by buyer and seller, select 
and classify as Third Quality the best of the deals so 
rejected. 

RED PINE DEALS. 

To be merchantable shall be free from rot, rotten 
knots, grub worm holes, open case knots and splits; 
several small sound knots to be allowed, according to 
the judgment of the Culler; heart shake to be allowed, 
if it does not run far into the deal, or form a split 
through at the ends; they shall be free (or nearly so) 
from black or dead sap; but sound sap in the corners 
or on a portion of one face of a deal to be allowed, ac- 
cording to the judgment of the Culler. 

SPRUCE DEALS. 

To be merchantable shall be free from rot, rotten 
knots, grub worm holes, open case knots, splits and 
shakes (a heart shake, not exceeding one-fourth of an 
inch, to one-half inch in depth, excepted); several 



102 QUEBEC CULLING. 



small sound knots and hard black knots to be allowed, 
according to the judgment of the Culler, and in the 
exercise of such judgment, he shall keep in view the 
peculiar nature of the wood, and govern his judgment 
accordingly : wane equal to half an inch on one edge, 
if running the whole length of the deal, to be allowed ; 
and if not exceeding one-quarter the length of such 
deal, three-quarters of an inch to be allowed. 

SPRUCE AND RED PINE DEALS, 

Second Quality. Shall be deals not coming within 
the definition of merchantable, and which, in the opin- 
ion and judgment of the culler, are not culls, and shall 
be classed as second quality; and the Culler, if re- 
quired by seller and buyer, may select and classify as 
Third Quality the best of the deals unfit to be seconds. 

QUEBEC STANDARD HUNDRED OF DEALS. 

Shall be one hundred pieces, twelve feet long, elev- 
en inches wide, and two and one-half inches thick ; and 
deals of all other dimensions shall be computed accord- 
ing to said standard. Deals of all qualities shall not 
be less than eight feet long, seven inches broad and 
two and and a half inches thick. 

Deal ends shall not be less than six feet long ; lengths 
should never fall short of full feet, or be more than 



QUEBEC CULLING. 103 



two inches over length, and shall be computed accord- 
ing to the Quebec standard. 

MERCHANTABLE DEALS. 

Must be well sawed (this point must have especial 
attention), and squared at the end with a saw ; and the 
color alone shall be no objection to their being mer- 
chantable. All deals when culled shall in all cases be 
stamped with the initials of the culler, and the capital 
letter denoting their quality as such. 

PROVISO AS TO SPRUCE DEALS. 

Provided always that spruce deals, if not sawed at 
the ends prior to or at the time of culling, shall be 
marked with the capital letter denoting their respective 
qualities, with red chalk, in large bold letters. 

HOW OTHER DEALS SHALL BE MARKED. 

To prevent mistakes in piling all other deals shall be 
marked with bold strokes, in red chalk, as follows : 
Merchantable shall be marked I. 
Second quality shall be marked IT. 
Third quality (if made) shall be marked III. 
Rejected, or culls, shall be marked X. 

DIMENSION OF STAVES. 

Standard or measurement staves shall be of the di- 
mensions set forth in the words and figures following : 



104 QUEBEC CULLING. 



5^ feet long, 5 inches .broad, and from 1 to 3 inches thick. 
413 " " 4i 2 « « » ito3 

3*2 " " 4 " " " lto3 

21q " " 5 " " " lto3 

HEART STAVES. 

Five and a half feet long, and four and a half inches 
broad, to be received as if of merchantable dimensions. 

STANDARD MILLE. 

Shall be twelve hundred pieces of five and a half feet 
long, five inches broad, and one and a half inches thick; 
and standard or measurement staves of other dimen- 
sions shall be reduced to the said standard by the tables 
of calculation in use. 

WEST INDIA OR PUNCHEON STAVES. 

Shall be three and a half feet long, four inches broad 
and three-fourths of an inch thick; all staves shall be 
straight grained timber, properly split, with straight 
edges, free from grub or large worm holes, knots, veins, 
shakes and splinters ; and small worm holes, not ex- 
ceeding three in number, to be allowed, according to 
the judgment of the Culler, provided there are no 
veins runnning from or connected therewith ; and the 
Culler shall measure the length, breadth and thickness 
of standard staves, at the shortest, narrowest and thin- 
nest parts; and the thickness of West India and barrel 
staves exceeding the standard breadth to be measured 



QUEBEC CULLING. 105 



at such breadth, to wit : four, and three and a half 
inches, respectively, provided the thinnest edge is not 
less than half an inch. 

TIMBER. 

The dimensions of merchantable timber shall be as 
set forth in the following words and figures : 

OAK TIMBER. 

Shall not be less than twenty feet in length, nor less 
than ten inches square in the middle. 

ELM. 

Shall not be less than twenty feet in length, or less j 
than ten inches square in the middle. 

WHITE PINE. 

Shall not be less than twenty feet in length, and 
twelve inches square in the middle, and fifteen feet j 
and upward in length, if sixteen inches and upward 
in the middle. 

RED PINE. 

Shall not be less than twenty-five feet in length, and 
ten inches square in the middle, and twenty feet and 
upward in length, if twelve inches square and upward 
in the middle. 

BIRCH. 

Shall not be less than six feet long, or less than 
twelve inches square in the middle. 



106 QUEBEC CULLING. 



TAPEK OF MERCHANTABLE TIMBER. 

Oak, three inches under thirty feet and in propor- 
tion for any greater length ; elm, two inches ; white 
pine, one and a half inches ; red pine, two inches ; ash 
one and a half inches ; basswood, one and a half inches ; 

j butternut, one and a half inches. Bends or twists not 

i to exceed one in number. 

HOLLOWS ALLOWED. 

Oak, three inches for ever twenty feet in length, and 
in proportion for any greater length ; elm, three inches ; 
white pine, two and a half inches; red pine, three 
inches ; ash, two and a half inches ; basswood, two and 
a half inches ; butternut, two and a half inches. 

DIMENSIONS OF WHITE PINE MASTS, BOWSPRITS AND RED 

PINE SPARS. 

i 

White Pine Masts, twenty-three inches and upward 

i at partners, shall be three feet in length to each inch 

j in diameter ; twenty-two inches, three feet, and two 

| feet extreme length ; twenty-one inches, three feet, and 

three feet extreme length ; twenty inches and under, 

three feet, and four feet extreme length. Hollow or 

i bend not to exceed six inches for seventy feet, and in 

proportion for any greater length. 

BOW SPRITS. 

! Shall be two feet in length for every inch in diame- 



QUEBEC CULLING. 107 

ter at the partners, adding two feet for extreme length. 

RED PINE SPARS. 

Shall be three feet to the inch in diameter at the 
partners, and nine feet extreme length ; hollow not to 
exceed seven inches for sixty feet, and in proportion 
for any greater length. 

REPRESSING. 

In all cases where it appears that timber, masts, spars, 
boards, planks, deals, staves, oars or any other descrip- 
tion of lumber, are not properly hewn, squared, butted 
or edged, but are merchantable in other respects, and 
sold as such, the Supervisor and Culler, respectively, 
shall order or cause the same to be properly dressed 
and chopped, at the expense of the seller or buyer, as 
the case may be, previously to their being respectively 
received and certified to be merchantable , such dress- 
ing and chopping to be done under the direction of 
the Culler in charge of the measuring or culling. 



MINNEAPOLIS INSPECTION. 

At a meeting of the Lumbermen's Board of Trade, 
held May 25, 1878, the plan for securing uniformity in 
the sorting of lumber was fully inaugurated, and the 
grades as nearly determined upon as it is possible to 
define them by any set of words. Entire harmony of 
opinion exists among the manufacturers of the city as 
to the uselessness of some of the grades or kinds which 
have been put upon the market, and it was unanimous- 
ly resolved to decrease the number of kinds by strik- 
ing out several. The committee appointed for the 
purpose, after fully considering the matter, reported 
the following list and description of grades : 

First Clear. Shall be not less than twelve inches 
wide and twelve feet long ; shall be free from all im- 
perfections, with no sap, except where over fourteen 
inches wide ; then allow not over one inch on one side. 

Second Clear. Shall not be less than ten inches 
wide and twelve feet long; defects may be allowed, 
not to exceed two knots of three-fourths of an inch in 
diameter, or sap that will be equal to one inch on one 
side. If the width be sixteen inches or upwards, de- 



MINNEAPOLIS INSPECTION. 109 

fects may be allowed equal to three knots of one inch 
in diameter, or sap equal to three inches the whole 
length. 

Third Clear. Shall be not less than seven inches 
wide and twelve feet long; defects, equal to three knots 
one inch in diameter and sap one and one-half inch 
wide in boards to twelve inches ; and from twelve to 
sixteen inches wide, knots of two inches in diameter 
and sap two inches on one side ; on boards over six- 
teen inches, defects may be increased to knots equal to 
four inches, and to four inches of sap. 

Clear Strips. Shall be six inches wide and full one 
inch thick ; will allow one inch of sap, but no other im- 
perfections. 

First Flooring. May be four, five or six inches 
wide; allow one inch of sap and three small sound 
knots, but no other imperfections. These imperfec- 
tions to apply to six inch flooring and to decrease ac- 
cording to width. 

Second Flooring. Same as first, in width; allow 
six small knots, and sap equal to one and one-half inch 
the whole length. 

Common Flooring, Shall be four, five and six 
inches wide; allow defects equal to eight small knots; 
sap or shake and split not to exceed two feet in length. 



110 MINNEAPOLIS INSPECTION. 



First Siding, Dressed. Allow one inch sap on thin 
edge, but no other imperfections. 

Second Siding, Dressed. Allow one inch sap on 
either edge, and three small knots, but no other imper- 
fections. 

Common Siding, Dressed. Allow sap and defects 
equal to eight small knots, and shake or split two feet 
in length. 

First Fencing. Shall be four, five and six inches in 
width ; shall be of good, sound character, free from im- 
perfections that so weaken a piece that it cannot be 
used for substantial fencing purposes. 

Second Fencing. Defective and unsound lumber. 

Common Boards. Shall be seven inches wide and 
upward, and eight feet long; of good, sound lumber 
and free from large, loose knots, and well manufactured ; 
will allow a little wane or a straight split, when other- 
wise sound and good. 

Common Dimension and Timber. Shall be of 
sound lumber and well manufactured; shall have no 
imperfections that will render it unfit for substantial 
building purposes. Some wane allowed. 

Common Stock. Shall be eight, ten and twelve 
inches wide, and of like quality with common boards. 

C Stock. Shall be eight, ten and twelve inches 



MINNEAPOLIS INSPECTION. Ill 



wide ; shall be sound and square edged. Will allow 
from eight to twelve sound knots, according to width, 
and will allow Norway. 

\b Stock. Shall be eight, ten and twelve inches 
wide; shall be sound and square edged; allow from 
four to eight small, sound knots, or sap not to exceed 
four inches in width the whole length of the best side. 

C Stock. May be eight to twelve inches wide, twelve 
to sixteen feet long, and of a quality equal to Third 
Clear Boards. 

Sheathing Boards. Shall be boards that are un- 
sound in quality, with loose knots, shakes, splits, and 
worm eaten, but of sufficient good quality to make 
good roofing boards, and to be six inches wide and 
upwards. 



LOG MEASUREMENTS. 

In presenting for the acceptance of log buyers a new 
table of log measurements, the author is aware that he 
has the prejudices of half a century to combat, dur- 
ing which time the Scribner and Doyle rules have 
been of almost universal acceptance. Were the tables 
of those authors susceptible of full authentication, the 
task would prove a hopeless one, for the reason that 
correct figures never mislead, but endure in their integ- 
rity through all time. When, however, the task was 
commenced of giving to the lumber trade a reliable 
compendium of the laws and customs governing the 
inspection of lumber in various localities, the compiler 
appreciated the importance of beginning at the incep- 
tion of the business, and supplying the log dealer with 
the most reliable rules of measurement, through a re- 
commendation to him to adopt one or the other of the 
standards already in use. Aware that in some localities 
Scribner's rule was the favorite, while Doyle's was de- 
nounced as incorrect, and in others, Scribner's was de- 
nounced and Doyle's commended, the author was led 
to make careful examination of both, with a view to a 
thorough analyzation of each in this work. 



LOG MEASUREMENTS. 113 



On taking up the latest edition of the work entitled : 
"Scribner's Log and Lumber Book," (1879) it was a 
matter of surprise to find that the publishers in an- 
nouncing, under date of 1872, the ownership of the 
Doyle stereotype plates, as well as those of Scribner, 
at the same time announced the discontinuance of the 
publication of the Doyle and the permanent adoption 
of Scribner's tables. In connection with the log tables 
appears an announcement that from the many com- 
plaints which had been made of the incorrectness of 
the Scribner log tables, they had been discarded and 
the Doyle tables substituted. 

An examination of the Doyle tables shows that so 
far from being made from the actual cutting up of logs; 
or even from a carefully prepared diagram, which 
should give equally correct results, a novel and arbi- 
trary rule of reckoning had been adopted, and that on 
logs of all sizes, a deduction of four inches from the 
diameter, the remainder being then multiplied by itself, 
in all cases gave the number of feet in a log 16 feet in 
length. For example, a log 12 inches in diameter and 
16 feet long: 12—4=8x8=64 feet. Deducting one- 
eighth, or eight feet, gives 56 feet as the contents of 
the same log at 14 feet long, and the addition of one 
eighth gives 72 feet as the contents of the same siz«?d 



114 LOG MEASUREMENTS. 



log at 18 feet in length. It will not be denied by any 
thinking mind that if a deduction of four inches is 
correct for a log of 12 inches diameter, the same 
amount of deduction would be utterly disproportionate 
in a log of 48 inches. If, however, the practical cut- 
ting up verified the correctness of the figures, then in- 
deed might one be warranted in asserting that a uni- 
versally correct method of arriving at the contents of 
sawlogs had been practically demonstrated. That such 
is not the case the following carefully prepared table 
must convince the most incredulous. By means of a 
carefully prepared diagram of each size of logs from 
eight up to 48 inches, and from 10 feet in length up to 
30 feet, embracing all the lengths and diameters which 
are likely to enter into practical use, and after allow- 
ing a slab of one inch upon each side of the log, the 
following table has been prepared of the contents ol 
each saw log of the sizes given, when cut into boards 
of one and one-sixteenth inch thickness, by a saw tak- 
ing one-quarter inch saw kerf, every board being square 
edged, and no lumber measured under five inches in 
width. 

Any reliable man familiar with the cutting up of 
saw logs is hereby challenged to disprove the asser- 
tion that a straight log of any given dimension sawed 



LOG MEASUREMENTS. 115 



as above stated, will yield the amount of lumber shown 
in the tables. Of course no allowance is made for 
crooked or otherwise defective logs, for this would be 
encroaching upon the domain of the inspector, who is 
supposed to make the crooked straight in taking his 
diameters, and to allow for all other defects, such as 
rotten butts, at the same time. No good sawyer will 
criticise the allowance of one-quarter of an inch for 
saw kerf ; it is enough, and a sawyer who cannot file 
and set his circular, mulay or gate saw, to do good 
work at that amount of waste, is an unfit man for his 
position,, while in gang mills, one-eighth of an inch is 
about the usual waste in kerf. In allowing one-six- 
teenth of an inch for plump lumber, an old and well 
established rule that all lumber should be cut to sea- 
son to its intended thickness, is adhered to. The tables 
are presented for the approval of those dealing in saw 
logs, with the assurance that in their preparation the 
interest of neither buyer nor seller, as such, has been 
considered, the only object being to produce a table 
which would represent the actual quantity of lumber 
which a log will produce under the manipulation of an 
ordinarily competent sawyer. To enable comparisons 
between this and the other rules mentioned, a synopsis 
of the corresponding sizes and lengths of both the 



116 



LOG MEASUREMENTS. 



Doyle and Scribner tables will be found upon succeed- 
iog pages. 

The following diagram will show at a glance the 




manner in which the author has worked out each indi- 
vidual log. It is drawn on a scale of one-tenth of an 
inch to the foot and shows the number of one and one 



LOG MEASUEEMENTS. 117 



sixteenth inch boards which can be taken from a log 
of 30 inches diameter, 12 feet in length, by the North- 
western Lumberman standard. The fact that the 
actual cutting of the log into 21 boards, requiring 20 
saw kerfs of one-fourth inch each, 20 lines of one-six- 
teenth excess, and two slabs of one inch each, equalling 
a deduction in the aggregate of 8£ inches from 80 inch- 
es, the diameter of the log, give 21f inches, which, 
multiplied by itself, leaves a net result of 476 feet 
against 474 feet obtained in the cutting up in the man- 
ner shown — the loss of fractional parts of an inch ac- 
counting for the difference of the two feet — effectually 
disproves the correctness of the Doyle rule, which gives 
the same log a measurement of 507 feet, and establish- 
es the correctness of the tables which follow. 



■h ! \ 



Jo. UtSLSJUSt 

- ■ 

NORTHWESTERN LUMBERMAN LOG RULE, 



Logs Reduced to Inch Board Measure. 
Copyright, 1879, G. W. Hotchkiss. 

















DIAMETER OF 


El 

H 


~I©' 


8 
21 


9 


10 


11 


49 


13 


14 

~~75 


15 

~~ 83 


16 

"92 


110 


27 


39 


46 


H 


i# 
14 


25 


34 


46 


53 


58 


73 


88 
102 


108 
126 


128 
149 


141 
164 


h 


29 


39 


53 


61 


67 


85 


fa 


16 


33 


45 


61 


70 


77 


97 


117 


144 


170 


188 


H 

B 


IS 


37 


51 


69 


79 


87 


109 


132 


162 


192 


211 


2© 


42 


54 


78 


92 


98 


122 


150 


166 


206 


220 


H 
(!) 
fa 


22 


46 


61 


85 


99 


107 


134 


163 


191 


220 


251 


24 


50 


68 


92 


106 


116 


146 


176 


216 


256 


282 


26 


54 


73 


99 


114 


125 


158 


190 


234 


277 


305 1 


d 


28 

So 


58 
62 


78 
84 


106 

114 


122 
131 


134 


170 


204 
219 


252 
270 


298 
319 


328 
352! 


144 


182 

















DIAMETER OF 


H 




29 


30 


31 


32 


33 


34 


35 


36 


37 


38 


lO 


"365 


297 


425 


"454 


491 


529 


552 
662 


"575 

690 


612 


"649 


12 


438 


474 


509 


544 


589 


634 


734 


778 


h 


14 


511 


553 


593 


634 


687 


739 


772 


805 
920 


856 
978 


907 


fa 

H 

H 

B 

(!) 

fa 

i * 


16 


584 


632 


678 


725 


785 


845 


882 


1037 


18 


657 


711 


763 


816 


888 951 


993 1035 


1101 


1167, 


20 


730 


794 


850 


908 


982 


1058 


1104 


1150 


1224 


1298; 


22 


803 


871 


934 


998 


1080 


1163 


1214 1265 


1346 


1427 


24 


876 


948 


1018 


1088 


1178 


1268 


13241380 


1468 


1556 


26 

~~28~ 


949 


1027 


1102 
1186 


1178 
1268 


1276 


1373 


1434J1495 1590 
1544; 1610| 1712 


1685 
1814 


1022 


1106 


1374J1478 


SO 


1095 


1185 


1271 


1359 


1472 


'l584 


1654 


1725 


1834 


1944 



NORTHWESTERN LUMBERMAN LOG RULE. 

Logs Reduced to Inch Board Measure. 
Copyright, 1879, G. W. Hotchkiss. 



LOG riCT INCHES. 
















18 | 19 


20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 


21 


28 




130; 149 


168 


"185 


203 


220 


237 


253 


269 


305 


342 


10 


155 170 


186 


214 


243 


268 


294 


316J 338 


390 


402 


12 j 


180 198 


218 


249 


283 


312 


343 


368 


394 


455 


469 


14 \ 


206 226| 248 


285 


324 


357 


392 


421 


450 


520 


536 


16 


232j 255 


279 


321 


364 


402 


441 


474 


507 


585 


603 


18 


260| 298 


310 


370 
399 


405 


440 


474 


506 


538 


610 
695 


684 
744 


20 


285| 319 


354 


446 


488 


531 


569 


607 


22 j 


310, 340; 372 


428 


486 


536 


588 


632 


676 


780 


804 


24 | 


335; 368 404 


463 


526 


580| 637 


684 


732 


845 


871 


26 ! 


360 396 436 


498 


566 


624! 686 


736 


788 


910 


938 


28 j 


386 424 466 


532 


607 


669, 735 


789! 844 


975 


1005 


30 j 



LOG- insr 


IITCHES. 








39 

"687 


40 

"725 


41 

"759 


42j 43 

792 ~835 


877 


45 \ 46 1 47 j 48 \ 49 
~~922 "967! 1014 1060 1112 
1106|1160!1216 1272 1334 


10 


824 


870 


910 


9501001 


1052 


961 


1015 


1061 


11081167 


1227 


1290il353jl418 1484|l556 


14 ! 


1098 


1160 


1213 


12661334:1402 


1474 1546 1621;1696j 


16 i 


1236 


1305 


1365 


1425 1500;i 578 


1659'17401824j 


18 j 

20'\ 


1374 


1450 


1518 


1584'1667 1754 


1844il934; 


1511 


1595 


1669 


1742|1836 


19292028; | | 
2104J 1 


22 


1648 


1740 1820 


1900,2002 


24 


1785 
1922 
2059 


18851971 
20302122 

,2175 2274 


2058 2168: 
2216 s 


26 
~28 
SO 



SYNOPSIS OF SCEIBNER'S LOG RULE 



Logs reduced to Inch Board Measure by Scribner's Standard. 













DIAMETER OF 


H 




*3 

59 


73 


14 


15 


16 


17 


18 

"160 
187 


19 

"180 
210 


ft 


i# 


86 


107 


119 


139 
162 


H 


14 


69 


85 


100 


125 


139 


Iff 


79 


97 


114 


142 


159 


185 


213 


240 


rt 


1* 


88 


109 


129 


160 


178 


208 


240 


270 


fa 


2© 


98 


122 


143| 178 


198 


232 


267 


300 


hi 


££ 


108 


134 


157 


196 


218 


255 


293 


330 


£4 


118 


146 


372 


214 


238 


278 


320 


360 















DIAMETEE, OF 


b 
ft 




28 | 29 


30 


31 


32 


33 \ 34 


35 36 


14 


436 


457 


493 


532 


552 


"588 600 


"657 "69 ~i 


H 


509 


533 


575 


622 


644 


686 


700 


766 


807 


16 


582 


609 


657 


710 


736 


784 


800 


876 


923 


18 


654 


685 


739 


799 


828 


882 


900 


985 


1038 


|Zf 


20 


728 


761 


821 


8*8 


920 


9801000 
1078J1100 


1095 


1152 
1268 


H 


22 
24 


800 

873 


838 


904 


976 


1012 


1204 


hi 


914 


986 


1065 


1104 


1176 


1200 


1314 


1380 



SYNOPSIS OF SCRIBNEE'S LOG RULE: 



Logs reduced to Inch Board Measure by Scribner's Standard. 



log lisr i isr c:h::es. 



20 

"2T0 


21 

"228 


22 1 23 1 24 \ 25 
_ 251 _ 283i303 "^44 


26 | 27 
"3751^411 


12 


245 


266 


292 330 
334| 377 


353j 401 


439 479 


14 


280 


304 


404 


459 


500 


548 16 


315 


342 


376 ! 424 


454 


516 


562 


616 18 


350 


380 


418 1 470 


505 


573j 625 


684 20 


385 


418 


460 


518 


555 


631 j 688 


753 22 


420 


456 


501 


566! 606 


688l 750 


821 24 



LOG I2sT HECHES. 








37 


38 j 39 \ 40 


41 42 


43 


44 




772 


8olj~840j 903 


~954!l007 


1046 


1110 


12 


901 


934 980jl053 


11131175 


1222 


1295! 14 


1029 


1068ill20;i204 


12721343 


1396 


1480 16 


1158120112601354 


14311511 


1571 


1665J 18 


11287 1335J1400I1505 


1590|1679 


1745 


18501 20 


1 ; I 


! 




22 


! ! 


24 



SYNOPSIS OF DOYLE'S LOG KULE : 



Logs reduced to Inch Board Measure by Doyle's Standard. 















DIAMETER OUT 






10 


11 I 12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


17 


I 
18 


12 


— 27 


~ 37i _ 48 


~ 6l 


_____ 


91 


~108 


126 


147 


H 


14 
16 


32 


43 
49 
55 


56 
64 

72 


71 


88 


106 


126 


144 


171 


h 


36 


81 


100 


121 


144 


169 


196 


& 


18 


41 


91 


112 


136 


162 


190 


220 


H 


20 


46 


61 


80 


101 


125 


151 


180 


211 


244 


w 


22 


£0 


67 


88 


111 


137 


166 


198 


232 


269 


hi 


24 


54 


74 


96 


122 


150 


181 


216 


254 


294 


2d 


59 


80 


104 


132 


163 


196 


234 


274 


318 


28 


63 


86 


112 


142 


175 


212 


252 


296 


342 


30 


68 


92 


120 


152 


188 


226 


270 


316 


368 

















_5i___j___T___=e, o_r 




■ 


29 


30 


31 


32 


33 


34 


35 


36 


37 


38 


H 
H. 
H 

ft 


i!£ 


469 


5o7 


547 


"588 


631 


675 


7_1 


768 


817 


807 


f_ 


547 


591 


638 


686 


736 


787 


841 


896 


953 


1011 


_6 


625 


676 


729 


784 


842 


900 


961 


1024 
1152 


1089 


1156 


H 


_« 


703 


761 


820 


882 


946 


1012 


1081 


1225 


1300 


20 


782 


845 


912 


980 


1052 


1125 


1202 


1280 


1361 


1446 


H 


22 


860 


930 


1004 


1078 


1156 


1238 


1322 


1408 




„ 


24 


938 


1014 


1094 


1176 


1262 


1350 


1442 


1536 


1 

! 


26 


1016 


1098 


1184 


1274 


1368 


1462 


1562 


1664 


28 


1094 


1182 


1276 


1372 


1472 


1574 


1682 


1792 


i 


§ 


SO 


1172 


1266 


1366 


1470 


1578 


1688 


1802 


1920 


! i 



SYNOPSIS OF DOYLE'S LOG KULE: 



Logs reduced to Inch Board Measure by Doyle's Standard. 



LOG- IliT HN-OHES. 














1 19 


20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 
~33T 


26 


27 
"397 


28 




IT69 


192 


217 


243 


271 


300 


363 


432 


12 


I 197 


224 


253 


283 


313 


350 


386 


433 


463 


504 


14 


i 225 


256 


289 


324 


359 


400 


441 


484 


530 


576 


16 


253 


288 


325 


364 


4061 450 


496 


544 


596 


648 


18 


i 280 


320 


361 


404 


452 


500 


550 


605 


661 


720 


20 


309 


352 


397 


445 


496 


550 


605 


665 


726 


792 


22 


338 


384 


433 


486 


541 


600 


662 


726 


794 


864 


24 


j 366 


416 


470 


526 


586 


650 


716 


786 


860 


936 


26 


394 


448 


506 


566 


626 


700 


772 


866 


926 


1008 


28 


422 


480 


542 


606 


672 


750 


826 


906 


9y-2 


1080 


30 



LOG- X3ST I3STCHES. 



39 


40 


41 


42 


43 


44 


45 


46 


41 


48 


12 


910 


972 


1027 


1083 


1141 


1200 


1261 


1323 


1387 


1452 


1070 


1134 


1198 


1264 


1331 
1521 


1400 


1471 


1544 


1618 


1694 


14 


1225 


1296 


1369 


1444 


1600 


1681 


1764 


1849 


1936 


16 


1379 


14581541 


1625 


1711 


1800 


1891 


1985 


2080 


2178 


18 


1530 


16201712 


1805 












| 20 
















\ 22 

— N~ 

| 26 


: 








j 










— -'— 





i 


28 

30 

1 



DUNLAP&CO. 



THE JUSTLY CELEBRATED 



New York Fifth Avenue Hatters 

Produce the most stylish and best wearing goods manufactured. 
We offer this season the productions of this celebrated house in 
greater variety and quantity than ever, because of the splendid sat- 
isfaction such have given our customers. 

BREWSTER, CH ?°t GO 

N, W. Cor, Clark and Madison Sts, 

JEt. J". IDO^WID, 




MANUFACTURER OF 



Veneer, Planing, Shingle, Store 

AND JOINTING KNIVES, 

Paper Engine Roll Bars, Bed Plates, Trimming, 
Rag Cutter and Straw Cutter Knives, 

Leather Splitter, Tobacco and Pattern Knives of Every 
Description, 

BELOIT, - - WIS. 



5' # 



W 
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: 9 '"£ ^ w" 5 - a: 



-Pas t— ' 3 . 

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I'll 







IF YOU INTEND GOING TO ANY POINT IN 



ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, NEBRASKA, WYOMING, 

COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, 
CALIFORNIA, CHINA OR JAPAN, 

PATRONIZE 

}l|e|reat|QBk|fhni|otttcr. 



PALACE DINING OARS 

Accompany all Express Trains, in which meals are served from bill of fare 
at the exceedingly low price of 

SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS. 



Sections in Palace Sleeping Coaches 

Between Chicago and the Missouri River ONE DOLLAR less 
than via competing lines. 



Connections with Lines West of Missouri River 

ARE ALL MADE IN UNION DEPOTS. 

At Council Bluffs with Union Pacific Railroad. 

At Atchison with Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. 

At Leavenworth with Kansas Pacific Railroad. 

A. KIMBAL.L, E. ST. JOHN, 

Gen. Superi/iteitrient, Gen. Ticket and Paw. Agent, Chicago. 



Lumber Dealers ! 



We are introducing a new, cheap and indispensable 
time and labor saving instrument for measuring lum- 
ber, 

THE LINEAROMETER. 

It is but little larger than a pocket tape-line case, is 
made of brass, with nickel caps; not liable to get out 
of order, and will last for years. It makes accurate 
measurements, from the fraction of one inch to 1,600 
feet on 16-feet boards, or 1,200 feet on 12-feet boards, 
and is equally adapted to 14-feet lumber. The calcula- 
tions are automatic and invariably correct ; and from 
its reliability, convenience and accuracy, the linear- 
ometer, which can be carried in the pocket, must prove 
an indispensable adjunct to the business of every one 
who buys, sells or measures lumber. 

Agents and canvassers wanted, to whom we will mail, 
on application (inclosing two 3-cent stamps), our descrip- 
tive circular, with wholesale prices, terms for exclusive 
territory, etc. Address 

J. J. GRAY & CO., 

Patentees and Manufacturers, 
Southeast cor. of Sixth and Arch Sts., Philadelphia, Pa. 



